The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) has seen the installation by GreenFields of the company's first dual use FIFA and IRB certified artificial turf pitch in China.

WAB is an international school set up in 1994 to accommodate the growing expatriate community in Beijing.

Currently educating more than 1,500 children from 57 different countries, ranging from kindergarten to high school, the school has to offer a range of sports facilities to accommodate all ages and cultures.

GreenFields identified that their unique dual use FIFA and IRB certified artificial turf would provide flexiblity of usage that the school specifically required. The pitch is also used for a range of other sports activities including running and futsal, a format of five a side football.

Elsewhere, a GreenFields dual use football and hockey pitch, installed at the Father Agnel School in Mumbai, India, has been chosen by a joint team from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FIFA as the solid base for one of the first national football academies in India.

The installation followed a decision by the school - upon advice from GreenFields - that it have a dual use hockey and football pitch instead of a single synthetic turf hockey pitch, giving much greater flexibility and pitch utilisation.

GreenFields assisted the school through each process of planning, time scheduling, hiring costs, and commercial lease of ground, providing a complete turnkey solution for the school. It also helped the school to secure a number of pitch rental contracts which generate enough additional income to cover all the pitch maintenance costs.

Image: GreenFields' dual use football and hockey pitch at the Father Agnel School in Mumbai, India