Mr Merlino said the International Hockey Federation (FIH) awarded Melbourne the right to host its most prestigious annual event, the 31st Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy, further enhancing Melbourne’s reputation as the sporting capital of the world.

“Victorians demonstrated their enthusiasm for hockey during the 2006 Commonwealth Games and will once again have the chance to see world-class hockey played here in Melbourne in 2009,” Mr Merlino said.

“This is a fantastic event for Melbourne, with more than 20,000 fans from around Australia and abroad to descend on the city to see the six top ranked men’s teams battle for the Champions Trophy.”

The teams competing in the nine day round robin tournament will be announced at the conclusion of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Australia’s national hockey team, the Kookaburras, are current Olympic champions and ranked the world’s number two team. They are assured of a place in the 2009 competition as the host nation.

Mr Merlino said the Champions Trophy was one of the top three global hockey events – including the Olympic Games and the World Cup. With neither the Olympics or the World Cup scheduled for 2009, all eyes will be on Melbourne.

“Hockey’s popularity in Australia continues to build, fuelled by the success of the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras,” he said.

“The crowds flocked to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games hockey events and we expect Victorians to again embrace the sport. The Champions Trophy will add even more excitement to our 2009 sporting events calendar.”

Hockey Australia president Pamela Tye said she was delighted the Kookaburras would have another chance to win a major trophy on home turf.

“We won in 1990 when we last hosted the tournament in Melbourne and hope to achieve the same outcome in front of a home crowd in 2009,” Ms Tye said.

Australia is one of the most successful nations to compete in the Champions Trophy, which began in 1978, winning eight times alongside Holland and just behind nine-time champions Germany.

Australia first hosted the Men’s Champions Trophy in Perth in 1980. The tournament was staged in Melbourne in 1990, Adelaide in 1997 and Brisbane in 1999.