“Underwater Hockey 101: How It Works and Why It’s Not in the 2024 Olympics (Yet)”

1. History of Underwater Hockey Underwater hockey (UWH), also known as Octopush, was invented in 1954 by Alan Blake, a founder of the South sea Sub-Aqua Club in England. Initially conceived as a winter training activity for divers to maintain fitness, the sport involved using shortened sticks (pushers) to maneuver a weighted puck across the bottom of a pool into goals. The first games were played in fins, snorkels, and masks, with teams of eight (later reduced to six). Key Developments: 1950s–1960s: The sport gained traction in the UK and spread to Commonwealth nations like Australia, South Africa, and Canada. 1970s: Formalized rules emerged, including puck weight (1.3–1.5 kg), stick specifications, and pool dimensions (25m x 15m, 2–4m deep). 1980: The first World Championships were held in Vancouver, Canada, organized by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS), the sport’s governing body. 2000s: Women’s world championships debuted (2...