Germany will "return to the scene" of its Olympic triumph four years ago as it prepares for this year's Olympics at the Champions Trophy in London in June. The Int'l Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Tuesday that the week-long field hockey tournament, originally scheduled for Argentina, will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park starting on June 10. The women's Champions Trophy will take place in the same venue the week before. The men's event was switched to London after the FIH canceled its contract with the Argentine Hockey Confederation "over a dispute about television rights contracts and sponsorship" (REUTERS, 3/8).
Circuit of the Americas confirmed the return of the U.S. F1 Grand Prix to Austin, Texas, on Oct. 21-23. Aditionally, the racetrack announced that Taylor Swift will perform on COTA's Super Stage after the F1 qualifying session on Oct. 22. Three-day weekend passes will go on sale to the public on April 6 (COTA).
FIA Race Dir Charlie Whiting said that the revamped Watkins Glen would be "an absolutely wonderful circuit" for F1 but there are "no current plans to bring the sport back" to the New York State track. Watkins Glen hosted the U.S. Grand Prix from '61-80. Whiting: "The track looks marvelous, I'm really impressed with the work that has been done and it is to a very high standard. I think Watkins Glen is one of the most charismatic circuits in the U.S. ... I think it would be an absolutely wonderful circuit for F1 cars to race on but we all know it is not as simple as that" (CRASH, 3/9).
