The Times' logo will feature on the shirts of the British team during competitions during the build-up to London 2012, beginning with this week's Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament at London's Riverbank Arena (pictured below).

The deal also takes in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia at the end of this month, the squad's last chance for competitive practise ahead of the Olympics, and play at the Investec London Cup in June at which the women will compete.

Jonathan Cockcroft, commercial and membership director at Great Britain Hockey, said: "We are delighted to join forces with The Times for what promises to be an enthralling period for British hockey.

"Our partnership will heighten the coverage of Great Britain men's Olympic preparations as excitement builds towards Games time, and will raise greater awareness of the exciting and ambitious Hockey Nation programme aimed at attracting more people to the sport.

"We look forward to hockey being one of the most read about sports this summer."


Tim Hallissey, sports editor at The Times said the newspaper is "proud and delighted to be associated with the Great Britain men's hockey team at such an exciting time for sport in this country.

"The last time Britain won an Olympic title in a team sport was 1988, when men's hockey struck gold in Seoul, and everyone will be hoping that hockey can end that 24-year wait in London this summer.

"The Times has a long tradition and reputation for its hockey coverage in words and photographs and will be reporting from the Riverbank Arena on the Visa International Invitational Olympic test event this week, in the build-up to London 2012 and daily throughout the Games."

The Times is part of News International, who have recently been under pressure regarding another of its newspapers, the now defunct News of the World.

The company's reputation came under heavy scrutiny regarding the activities of some News of the World journalists in high-profile phone hacking scandals in the United Kingdom.

British Hockey would not comment on the link to News International.

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