Author of five books on field hockey Mark Tronson (Well-Being Australia chairman) and someone who has been involved in Olympic ministry since the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, says that his interest in both, provides a remarkable example of prepartion for both.
Mark Tronson says that no Olympic Gold Medallist hockey team has ever won an Olympic event without preparing thoroughly and the Kookaburra team kicks off its true blue preparations in London with a four team tournament.
The Kookaburras will play against Germany, Britain and India from May 2-6 at London's Riverbank Arena on the new Olympic blue pitch.
It's also been revealed that Britain's hockey players have been banned from using Twitter for four hours before a game and two hours after.
The Kookabuarras meanwhile have picked up a multitude of "silverware" since the Beijing Olympics where they won Bronze. Since then, and with a new coach in Ric Charlesworth, the team has won Champions Trophy after Champions Trophy, the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup both of which were held in India.
This tournament on the London pitch will give the Kookaburras a feel for the ground and provide much needed team experience so as to get those passing moves together as is their recent acclaim.
The Hockeyroos is this initial pre Olympic tournament play Britain, Argentina, China and Korea will compete in the women's competition. The London Olympics start on July 27.
Olympic Christian Ministry
The Olympic Christian Ministry meanwhile will be inundated with a wide range of specialist Christian ministries at ground level. Mark Tronson says he knows of at least five separate international ministry groups that will be on the ground in London during the London Olympics.
All this is in addition to the combined London churches outreach "More than Gold" which has a wide range of community ministries including welcoming personnel throughout London and at Olympic venues.
These are seperate to the actualy Olympic Village "Religious Services" which requires special Olympic accreditation and along with trained UK Chaplains there is also a contingent of international chaplains who are Olympic Ministry regulars.
The Olympic ministry with the greatest longjevity, functioning at every Olympic event since 1984 in Los Angeles is Lay Witnesses for Christ International (LWFCI) led by Dr Sam Mings with his team of chaplains. Amny of whom are former Olympians. This ministry is known as the Chaplains to the World's Olympians.
LWFCI highlights are their Nights of Olympic Champions which are being held in various churches all around London. These glittering spectacular events are partnered with local churches and as an evanvgelistic event have proven themselves to be second none as the world's media engages as they are televised around "much of the world".
This is an exciting time as these Olymopic ministries gear up for the London Olympics as are the Kookaburras.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
