The USA women may two more reasons to celebrate after the IOC increased the number of women's teams for the 2008 Olympic Games from 10 to 12.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey's hopes for earning a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games received a big boost Thursday with the International Olympic Committee's decision to increase the number of women's teams competing at the Games from 10 to 12.

With the decision by the IOC Executive Board in Lausanne, Switzerland, the women's field will match the men's Olympic tournament with 12 teams for the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008.

"We are extremely pleased with the International Olympic Committee's commitment to enhancing opportunities for women and we applaud the Executive Board for this decision," said USA field Hockey President Sharon Taylor. "The decision is especially meaningful to us after the USA women were the 11th team in qualifying for the 10-team tournament in each of the last two Olympic Games. Our challenge now is to ensure we are among those 12 teams qualifying for future Olympic Games."

The USA women’s squad was the last team out in qualifying for both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.  In each case, the USA narrowly missed a berth in the Games as the 11^th ranked team in attempting to qualify for the 10-team Olympic field.

"I am thrilled that an extra two women’s teams will now have the opportunity to participate at hockey’s pinnacle event, a move certain to boost the profile of our sport around the world," International Hockey Federation President Els van Breda Vriesman said. "The decision of the IOC Executive Board consolidates hockey’s place on the Olympic programme and is recognition of our strong ties with the Olympic movement."

The decision marks the second time the IOC has raised the number of women's teams at the Olympic Tournament since women's field hockey was first included on the Olympic programme in 1980. The original eight-team field was increased to 10 for the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. The men's Olympic tournament has included 12 teams since 1988.

Other requests accepted by the IOC Executive Board included raising the number of women's teams in football (soccer) from 10 to 12, raising the number of women's handball teams from 10-12 and the inclusion of the 3000m steeplechase event in women's athletics.