A sports club is leading the charge to drum up Olympics fever ahead of the London Games.

Southgate Hockey Club is holding three veterans tournaments in the run-up to the 2012 Games, starting this weekend.

The inaugural Southgate London Masters competition will see teams travelling from as far afield as Italy and Belgium to take part in the three-day hockey festival.

Tournament organiser Joe Manero said: "We’re hoping to start the series off with a bang. There’ll be barbecues, live music and some great hockey to watch.

"Next year - our 125th anniversary - we want more teams to come and even more the year after.

"The Olympics is a great opportunity to boost the profile of hockey and sport in general - one that we intend to exploit to the full."

The competition is for men aged 40-55. The teams taking part are two from Italy - Ultima Legio and Bra - Leuven from Belgium, Norfolk's Harleston Magpies and two from Southgate.

Each side will play two games on Friday and Saturday and one on Sunday. Accommodation is being provided at Middlesex University's Trent Park campus, a stone's throw from the Snakes Lane club.

The events seek to build on Southgate's strong touring tradition - each year its summer hockey club, Pistons, take part in a six nations tournament against teams from France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Spain.

In 2012, Great Britain will look to emulate the success of its women's team who won bronze at the Champions Trophy in Nottingham a week last Sunday - their best finish in the competition. As part of their training for the event they played Southgate men's first team twice earlier this year.