The National Sports Centre now has a carpet ? literally.

As a final application of the nylon artificial playing surface on the new hockey pitch ? situated behind the facility's main grandstand ? neared completion yesterday, no one was more delighted than Bermuda Hockey Federation president Justin Freisenbruch as a long-time dream came to fruition.

"Hockey has been wanting and dreaming about this for a long time," said Freisenbruch shortly before unofficially baptising the new surface with association vice-president Liz Osborne.

"This facility will now enable us to compete on a much more level footing with our neighbours in the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world. And the most important aspect for us with this pitch will be the opportunity to launch our youth development programmes," added the president.

"We would like as many young Bermudians as possible to have the opportunity to play the sport on this fantastic facility.

"It is world class and the association literally can't wait to get on it. On behalf of Bermuda Hockey Federation I would like to thank the trustees and the Government for providing us with this incredible facility."

With the new pitch having met International Hockey Federation standards, deputy chairman of the Sports Centre trustees, Sean Tucker, said the facility would be the benchmark for future artificial hockey facilities worldwide.

"It's the first of its kind here in Bermuda," Tucker said. "And this field will actually be the prototype and standard for other artificial pitches in the world and we (trustees) are very proud of the progress that has been made."

The new pitch sits atop a "porous" slab of concrete which will allow water to seep through into a storage system to be later used to irrigate grassed playing surfaces at the Sports Centre, explained Tucker.

"It takes about two seconds for the water to seep through," he added. "There is also an elastic layer placed just below the actual artificial surface."

Also present during yesterday's ceremony was Sports Minister Dale Butler who thanked the trustees for their "continued" leadership.

"I have no doubts that this new facility will benefit both current players and generations to come," Butler said.

"So we are extremely delighted that we are now taking this next step and I would also like to thank the hockey association for the advice and diligence they have provided to ensure, along with the trustees, that we have the correct playing surface."