After boycotting the IHF media manager, Indian journalists walked out of FIH president’s press conference today.

By Adarsh Vinay

The prelude to the 2010 hockey World Cup is going from bad to worse. For the second time in four days, the media boycotted an international hockey federation press conference.

Off-field issues have marred the build up to the world championships with new controversies popping up everyday. On Wednesday, FIH spokesperson Arjen Meijer was at the receiving end as journalists protested the stringent measures placed on the coverage of the 12-nation tournament.

Everything seemed to be settled as the media persons were given their accreditations the next day. On Friday, they interacted with the teams and all issues looked to be sorted.

But the media is still not being allowed into the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the venue for the tournament. They are also barred from watching the practice matches. All this witnessed the media making its discontent felt, as it made it clear to the FIH that things are not how they should be.

President Leandro Negro began the proceedings with an apology. Addressing the media as "part of the hockey family", the Spaniard explained that organising a World Cup was a "long, difficult procedure" made further tedious due to "security complications."

But members of the media cut him short. Visibly unhappy at the way they were being treated, one journalist even went as far as saying that "this was the worst organised tournament ever". On Negre's persistent insistence that he was trying to sort out the matter, the media sarcastically thanked him for his efforts before leaving the room.

With the World Cup commencing in 24 hours, the authorities have a task on their hands to restore some dignity to the already blighted tournament. One can only hope that once the matches begin, everyone's attention, including the journalists, will turn to the field. That is assuming they are allowed entry!