Argentina to Host Polo’s World Cup in 2011
The Federation of International Polo (FIP) today announced that Argentina will host the final stages of its ninth Polo World Cup in September 2011.
The Asociación Argentina de Polo (AAP) made its successful bid for the FIP’s flagship 14-goal World Championship during a Special General Assembly of the federation in Wellington, Florida (April 19). The assembly also confirmed venues for next year’s qualifying tournaments.
Delegates at the Florida meeting elected Eduardo J Huergo of Argentina as president of the federation. Huergo, a veteran member of the FIP’s Council of Administration, had been serving as interim president and will now head the organisation to November 2012.
“This Special General Assembly was held in an atmosphere of fraternity and unity among all our member countries small and large,” said Huergo. “I was most honored to be elected as president and, with the support of our new Executive Committee and Council of Administration, will continue to work diligently on a reorganization and expansion of the federation’s activities to the benefit of our great sport worldwide.”
The assembly admitted two new national associations, Nigeria and Portugal, bringing the FIP’s total membership to 51 countries. The largest associations are those of Argentina, England and the USA, representing more than half of the polo players worldwide.
Ten national teams will qualify for the World Cup after play-offs during 2011 including host country Argentina and defending champions Chile. The Florida assembly confirmed venues for two of the qualifying tournaments: South America, Brazil; and Africa/Asia/Oceania, Malaysia. Venues for Europe and North America have yet to be confirmed.
In the final World Cup stages next year, according to hosts Argentina, preliminary matches will be played at the Estancia Grande Polo Club in San Luis province. The club will have four polo grounds plus stabling for a pool of some 300 ponies from which teams will draw their mounts. The competition will then move to the AAP’s big national polo stadium at Palermo in Buenos Aires.
The FIP’s first World Cup was held in Argentina in 1987. The last championships were held in Mexico in 2008.