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The 2008 Olympic Qualifier for Women's Field Hockey received $35,000 from Hosting BC. A qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games, the event drew 108 athletes, aged 18-32 who came from six countries, including Malaysia, Uruguay, and Italy as well as from five Canadian provinces. Spectators at the University of Victoria numbered 14,100 and the event was supported by 400 volunteers.
The event gave Canadian athletes an opportunity to compete internationally without significant travel expense and local athletes came to observe elite competition and be inspired to pursue their sport. Direct economic and tourism benefits included 5,372 hotel room nights booked and increased revenue for local tourism and hospitality businesses. Officials and volunteers, including high school students, upgraded skills to international levels to form an experienced resource pool for future events. Sustainable community legacies include covered player benches and international standard nets donated to the Victoria Field Hockey League; and the University of Victoria gained a clock/scoreboard at the field.
