The inaugural edition of the competition will take place from July 12-16, 2011 and see hosts and European champions England take on Commonwealth Games bronze medallists New Zealand, South Korea and Belgium at University of Westminster's Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground in Chiswick, West London.

The competition will feature a round-robin format with each team facing each other to determine the gold and bronze medal matches which take place on the final day of the event.

Launching the London Cup, Jonathan Cockcroft, the England Hockey Board commercial and membership director said: "Bringing international hockey to London gives both hockey and sports fans the opportunity to marvel at the pace and power of our future Olympians in the flesh only a year out from London 2012.

"The London Cup will be an annual event which will form a key part of the Great Britain and England Hockey squads' calendar in the future.

"Playing these international matches at home presents the public with a great chance to show their support of their team and their country."

In addition to eight hockey matches on show, the London Cup will provide visitors with the chance to try their hand at hockey and check out the latest hockey equipment in the tented village.

Next year, it is intended that the 2012 London Cup will act as the Olympic test event at the Olympic Park before the tournament moves to the Lee Valley Hockey Centre, hockey's 2012 legacy venue, in 2014.

England men's hockey captain Barry Middleton said: "The team is getting increasingly excited about this opportunity to play in London especially with the London 2012 Olympics only a year away.

"We're really hoping that hockey and sports fans come and support us at this inaugural London Cup event."

Tickets from just £10 ($16) for adults and £5 ($8) for under-18s will be available from TicketZone.

For more information call 0844 499 3222 or click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected].