International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is in Monchengladbach this weekend for the final two days of the BDO Hockey World Cup.

Listen to IOC President Jacques Rogge

Dr Rogge praised the sport’s contribution to the Olympic Games and also the manner in which it has been willing to change in order to increase its appeal.

“The International Olympic Committee has a very good relationship with the International Hockey Federation. Hockey contributed a lot to the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement,” Dr Rogge said.

“It is a very spectacular sport. It is a sport that has evolved very well I would say over the last five or 10 years.”

Dr Rogge was on hand yesterday to for the announcement of the 2006 WordHockey Player of the Year awards to Teun de Nooijer and Christopher Zeller and will present the 2006 World Cup to the victorious team after the final.