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__SPEECH__ This years olympics are being held in Beijing,China.One of the teams compeating are the Blacksticks. I will be talking about how tghe Blacksticks got into the olympics and my favourite player Hayden Shaw. If your wondering who the Blacksticks are they are a NZ's mens international hockey team. To get into the olympics they had to win the qualifiring tournament in Auckland in early Febuary. They had to play T&T(won12-0),IRE(won3-1),USA(won4-0)&ARG(lost3-10) in the round robin. They only lost 1 game in the round robin so they made the semifinal against FRANCE(won2-0). Theyhad to play ARGENTINA again in the final to see who could qualify for the olympics held on the 8th of August this year. The final was a very exciting and close game. At th end of the game the score was 2all so the had togo into extra time. Both teams had chances to score but they couldn't get the ball into tue back of the net. With 10seconds remaining NZ got a penalty corner and when the penalty corner started the crowd was roaring or NZ to score. From the penalty corner the ball was trapped and Brad(Hayden's brother) scored, so they congrtulated Brad for scoring the winning goal. FINAL SCORE 3-2 TO NZ. For the tournament NZ scored 25 goals and conceded 6 goals. The Blacksticks coach is Shane McLeod. He was very proud of his team for winning and making it into the olympics. HAYDENS PROFILE Hayden Johnathon Shaw was born on the 31st of August in 1980 in Christchurch. He plays as a defender. He started playing hockey at the age or 5 and trains 18 hours per week and made his first aperance against Australia in 2002. His toughest apponment is Australia. He says the NZ teams strengths are penalty corners and the NZ teams weaknesses is defence. He is 27 years of age and has played 127 matches for the Blacksticks. His message to players is to have fun and winning isn't that important. Whenhe is not playing hockey he likes to play cricket,watch tv or spend time with his wife Johanna. He is NZ'S specialists drag flick player. He usually hits the ball into the goal off penalty corners. it takes alot of hard work and detication from the to be competitive at the olympics. I am looking foward to watching them play at the olympics and I hope they do well!!