LONDON – The hockey competition at the next year’s London Olympics will be played on blue plastic pitches, the organisers have announced. The decision by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games (LOCOG) was taken to change the traditional green pitches for blue to make the contrast between the pitch and ball greater, meaning that it will be easier to see the ball. The pitch run off areas will be pink. Hockey will have more than 380 competitors representing 24 teams including Pakistan at the London Games in men’s and women’s competitions.