A few weeks back I shared a story about a group of rugby players who were hoping to set a record for the highest match ever played later this spring. They’re planning to hold their event in the shadow of Mt. Everest itself in early May. Not to be outdone, a team of field hockey players have announced a similar plan, with the hopes of playing their 70-minute long match near Annapurna this summer.
The players involved in the game are taking part in a charity program called Hockey for Heroes, which is based in the U.K. The organization helps friends and family of fallen soldiers to manage their grief and learn to deal with their loss. The program has been in existence since 2012 and has used field hockey as a way to raise awareness and funds for this important cause.
Representatives of Hockey for Heroes will travel to Nepal in July and embark on a trek in the Annapurna region of the country. The plan is to hike up to 5200 meters (17,060 ft) to play the hockey match, which will be recorded as the highest altitude game of field hockey ever played. The event will even be live streamed on the Internet for others to watch and in accordance to Guinness World Record specifications.
While in Nepal, the players will also deliver field hockey gear and equipment, as well as provide some training clinics for local players. The hope is to not just raise awareness about the organization’s important cause, but also have an impact on the local communities too. July isn’t interesting time to go to the Himalaya however, as that is the middle of the monsoon season. Hopefully they won’t go all of that way just for a rain out.
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