2. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 WELCOME TO ROSARIO IN 2 0 1 0

3. THE CITY OF ROSARIO Parana River ROSARIO Buenos Aires Located 300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires, Rosario gathers a beautiful natural scenery, cultural offerings of all genres and tastes, with entertainment for young and old as well, and a rich architectural heritage. With a population of 1.2 million, and a modern urban development, the city stretches 25 km along the vast Parana River. Rosario represents a balanced combination of the urbanity, style, the tango and rock atmosphere of wealthy and powerful Buenos Aires, and the hospitality, grit, and gaucho folk culture of the hard working Argentinean hinterland. The city has experienced an outstanding growth in the business tourism segment in the country due to its position as one of the most important centers for worldwide agri-food production and exports. Its river ports load thousands of overseas cargo ships. Due to its high quality service infrastructure, the city became the second most important organizer of conferences, seminars and events of all kinds in Argentina. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010

4. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 SPORTS EVENTS IN THE CRADLE OF THE FLAG Rosario is familiar with hosting international sports events. It was an important venue for the controversial 1978 Football World Cup, the 1982 and 2002 Volleyball World Cup, the 1990 Basketball World Cup, the 2001 U-20 Football World Cup, the 2004 Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy, the 2007 Air NZ Golden Oldies Hockey Festival, and many others. The birthplace of the Argentinean national flag, the city is known as “ the cradle of the flag ”. The National Flag Memorial (Monumento Nacional a la Bandera) stands at the historical area of the city next to the Parana River, where the flag was raised for the first time. Its impressive architecture symbolizes a ship sailing to the future. Next to it, there is the Pasaje Juramento, a splendid walkway with Lola Mora’s sculptures on both sides. The city streets boast many sample of various architectural styles. From Art Nouveau to modernism together with Art Deco or rail or port architecture, buildings reflect the contributions of several immigrating communities.

5. Argentinean Flag Memorial and Park / Monumento a la Bandera Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010

6. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS Rosario’s shopping malls are among the best in Latin America. And downtown pedestrian streets are also very popular for shoppers. The cafe and restaurant market has radically expanded in the last few years, and still is. With the typical Argentinean asado (wood fire grilled steak and ribs) and the dishes of Parana River fish as the core of the local cuisine, dozens of world-class restaurants offer superb value ranging from fine pizza and pasta Italian trattorias to Spanish paellas and seafood, and recently adding international and sophisticated chef cuisine. From September to April, enjoy the unmistakable view of the Parana River islands and everglades from a riverside café, sampling a drink or espresso coffee, or tasting a delicate meal with a glass of award-winning Argentinean malbec wines at a classy restaurant.

7. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 THE AIRPORT The Islas Malvinas International Airport is located 13 km (8 miles) west of Rosario city centre. The airport covers an area of 550 hectares (1359 acres) and is operated by the Province of Santa Fe. The airport serves the Greater Rosario area and is the main hub for Sol Lineas Aereas and is also served by Aerolineas Argentinas, Gol, the Uruguayan PLUNA and LAN Argentina. There are domestic flights within Argentina from Rosario to Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Santa Fe and Villa Gesell (a beach resort on the Atlantic), as well as international services to Santiago de Chile, Porto Alegre, Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. Europe, North America and virtually all the rest of the world can be reached via these other international airports. A new terminal was constructed in 2004, making Rosario effectively an international airport. A taxi from the main hotel area to the airport costs about ten US dollars.

8. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Rosario International Airport

9. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 HOTELS The quality and quantity of hotels in Rosario has grown in the last 5 years at perhaps an even greater rate than the city itself. The incoming tourism, especially during short breaks, has more than trebbled since the early 1990’s. For the first time, two international hotel chains established in Rosario: Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson. The apart-hotel category also developed, servicing families and long stays. Even the low budget, often young and foreign, visitor has benefited from the Rosario hotel boom, with two dozens new hostels which opened in the last half decade. In 2007, the first 5-star hotel, Ros Tower, was opened in Rosario with big success. The local, traditional hotels, had to catch up with the trend, thus resulting in fully renewed and modernized hotels, especially in the 4-star range. For 2009, Rosario’s first casino will open, along with its hotel, convention center, and entertainment center. The building site occupies an area of 8 hectares (20 acres). And the Vegas-style project will be absolutely innovative to Argentina standards.

10. HOTEL FACTS Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 5 stars (availability: 325 rooms) Ros Tower Casino Club (2009) 4 stars (availability: 1012 rooms) Ariston Garden Holliday Inn Howard Johnson Libertador Plaza Plaza del Sol Plaza Real Presidente Riviera Palace Rosario Apart Hotels (availability: 171 rooms) Pringles Apart Río Grande Apart Urquiza Apart Alvear Apart Apart Victoria 3 stars (availability: 532 rooms) Cristal Holiday Inn Express (2009) Hotel Necof Majestic Maro Mayoral Nuevo Europeo Nuevo Imperio República Viena

11. Hotels and Restaurants Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010

12. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 ROSARIO 2004 - 2008 2004 was practically a foundational year for Rosario. The city had been appointed to host the most important event of the whole spanish-speaking universe: the Third Congress of the Spanish Language, with the most renowned writers and linguists, plus the queen and king of Spain as guests. It was a turning point to the city’s approach to international events. Coincidentally, the country’s wealth improved enormously, mainly due to the farm commodities produced in the Rosario area. All this resulted in a construction upsurge, public works, with great riverside developments, and a growing interest from outside visitors, either for tourism, work, or conventions. The long-awaited bridge to Victoria, on the Parana River, a new airport, new hotels, a fully refurbished El Circulo Theatre (the Language Congress venue), new road connections, and even a Buenos Aires Rosario high-speed train project materialized within only a few years. In hockey, the Womens Champions Trophy took place in Rosario in 2004, which meant a new astroturf field for the city.

13. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 ROSARIO 2004 - 2010 The city’s two shopping centers also opened their doors in 2004, and have been growing in trade and influence ever since. Other huge projects are currently under construction. The most important one is the Casino Hotel located right on the Buenos Aires highway access. It will become Rosario’s biggest hotel, and certainly a big attraction for millions of new visitors, from the sorrounding provinces and especially from Buenos Aires. Holiday Inn is also putting up a big new hotel situated just off the main business district, with 135 rooms designed under their Express brand. But the biggest urban undertaking is still to be started. It is Puerto Norte, an old waterfront area with abandoned docklands and industrial plants. Puerto Norte, located right on the most pronounced river bend, to the north of the city, will host condos, apartment buildings, public squares, a new shopping district, and new streets.

14. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 The Rosario – Victoria Bridge

15. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 MACRO Contemporary Art Museum

16. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Alto Rosario Shopping Center

17. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Portal Rosario Shopping Center

18. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 El Circulo Theater

19. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Future Casino – Hotel (2009)

20. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Future Casino – Hotel (2009)

21. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Future Casino – Hotel (2009)

22. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Puerto Norte Future Housing and Office Development (beg. 2009)

23. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 ROSARIO, THE CITY OF WOMEN’S HOCKEY Rosario is arguably the city of women’s hockey in Argentina. The city with a rare privilege in hockey: being the birthplace of a five times Best Player of the Year, Luciana Aymar. This fact has attracted hundreds of young girls and boys into the game, season after season. But this is not only due to their admiration for Luciana. Hockey beginners and players in Rosario can rely on a thoroughly organized provincial association, the Asociación de Hockey del Litoral. More than 4 thousand officially associated players, a vast majority of them women, step into a hockey field every weekend to defend their clubs’ colours. Another 4,000 hockey players from the neighbouring area are partially linked to the Rosario Association through their town’s club or school. Hockey in Rosario is veteran-friendly as well. There is a regular league for them throughout the year.

24. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 After several international test matches played at the Jockey Club of Rosario, the year 2004 saw the materialization of the biggest tournament so far: the BDO Women’s Champions Trophy. The Rosario’s crowd went beyond all expectations in terms of response, attendance, and passion. Two years later, a 4 Nations tournament was organized at the same venue, also with big success. The 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup is the perfect award for a hockey scenario in permanent growth and enthusiasm. ROSARIO, THE CITY OF WOMEN’S HOCKEY

25. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 MAS HOCKEY, A HOCKEY N.G.O. MAS HOCKEY is a civil association in Rosario whose main objective is to disseminate hockey in, especially public, schools. It was created only a few years ago, and so far the programme has proved very successful, scoring thousands of new young players in Rosario schools. Its president is Ayelen Stepnik, one of the most famous women hockey player in Argentina. MAS HOCKEY (meaning "more hockey" in Spanish) is now starting to branch out to other provinces in Argentina. But the programme also delivers further services to the game of hockey in our region.

26. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 HUNDREDS OF NEW PLAYERS The coaches, or teachers, at the schools are accomplished young players, many of them playing for the national team, who are permanently offered to migrate to European leagues as an opportunity to make a, frequently small, income out of professional hockey. This situation very often results in local clubs losing their best sporting assets, and individual university careers interrupted. MAS HOCKEY aims to generate resources in order to offer these players a monthly, hockey-related salary. It has so far helped retain a few of these young values at home. The Rosario local government and a number of private companies have been of great assistance, but the big challenge is to keep it going month after month.

27. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 Rosario and its people’s passion for hockey awaits you in 2010.

28. Xll th Women’s Hockey World Cup. Rosario , Argentina 2010 www.rosario2010.com.ar

29. www.mariatti.com