Clop-Clop, Flying Polo
2009 Beijing First International Polo Open Tournament
2009 Beijing First International Polo Open Tournament, sponsored by Beijing Municipla Bereau of Sports and People’s Government of Yanqing County, drew to a close on 6th October. Players of four teams from Australia, Brazil , New Zealand and China had experience four fierce competitions in two days. Finally, the Brazilian team won the Championship Cup, which is considered as the highest honor of Chinese Polo, with a victory score 5 to 0 over New Zealand team.
From 5th to 6th of October, 2009 Beijing First International Polo Open Tournament, with the purpose of displaying polo skills and providing a platform for international communication and exchanges, was held at the polo field of Beijing Sunny Time Polo Club. This event was approved by the General Administration of Sport of China, sponsored by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and People’s Government of Yanqing County, organized by Beijing Sports Competitions Administration Centre, Sports Bureau of Yanqing County, Beijing Sunny Time Polo Sports Co., ltd, co-organized with kind effort by China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited (“CSR”), and Bestill Trading Ltd, which is general agent of USPA in China. This event is another large-scale international tournament in Beijing following the Beijing International Marathon, China Open, World Snooker China Open, and the Beijing sports government also want to make this tournament to be a brand sports event.
Ms. Hou Yulan, the Deputy General Secretary of Beijing Municipal Government; Mr. Sun Kanglin the Chief Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports; Mr. Zhang Zhaohui, the Deputy Director of Beijing Sports Competitions Administration Centre; Mr. Sun Wenkai, the Head of the Yanqing County; Zhao Zhiping, the Deputy Head of Yanqing County and some other leaders presented and watched the match. His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Naser Al Soud of Saudi Arabia presented as a VIP to watch the tournament.
In the field, polo club teams from Australia Riverlands Polo Club, Brazil Helvetia Polo Country Club and New Zealand Wanstead Polo Club, competed with Beijing Sunny Time Polo Club team, which is represented by Xia Yang, Executive Director of Polo Committee of Chinese Equestrian Association. In the competition for the 3rd place, Australia Riverlands Polo Club team won a victory over Beijing Sunny Time Polo Club team with the score of 4:2; while in the Champion tournament fight, Brazilian Helvetia Polo Country Club over Nea Zealand Wanstead Polo Club with the score 5:0, and Brazilian club team finally won the“champion cup” currently considered as the highest honor of polo in China.
According to Mr. Xia Yang, General Manager of Beijing Sunny Time Polo Sports Co., ltd and Executive Director of Polo Committee of Chinese Equestrian Association, polo originated in the Han Dynasty in China, and was popular in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and was then passed to the western countries from India. To carry forward the essence of the Chinese traditional culture, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and People’s Government of Yanqing County decided to promote the fashionable polo sport in China.
It is said that the most luxurious game should be accompanied by the most luxurious line-up, the most prestigious competition should be participated by the most distinguished players, top-level competition should be equipped by the top partners. Polo is not only full of dynamism, but can also catch spectators’ eyes. Polo tournament is always recognized as the high-end sports tournament, especially a top business platform for the high-end crowd and successful personages. Each successful holding of polo is sponsored by internationally renown enterprises such as Mercedes-Benz，Porsche，International airline of United Arab Emirates，which are leading roles in their fields respectively. China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited (“CSR”) and Bestill Trading Ltd. have sharp eyes in the future of polo and have been bolstering polo with unremitting efforts. China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Limited (“CSR”) is full of vigor and vitality, though quite young in ages as it is reorganized at the beginning of the 21st century, it bears a history of over a hundred years, and is the cradle of China’s industry. As the general agent in China for the United States Polo Association, Bestill Trading Ltd. also offered great support. Their efforts have contributed to the promotion of polo in China.
Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports has made outstanding contribution for the revival and rapid development of modern polo in China. In the past four years, five International Invitational Polo Tournament were held by Beijing Sunny Time Polo Sports Co., ltd. Polo in Beijing has definitely taken the leading role in China. Influenced by the development and the leading role of polo sport in Beijing, other provinces like Tianjin, Sichuan, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu and Zhejiang also started to develop of this sport. 2009 Beijing First International Polo Open Tournament has initiated the organization of international polo tournament in China in the modern history and will also set a vane for international sports eventsLive and the development of polo sport in China.
In the Post-Olympic era, Beijing is faced by numerous opportunities and challenges. High-end Sports not only provide a high-end business platform but also promotes tourism, blazing a new trail for economic and cultural development in Beijing. 2009 Beijing First International Polo Open Tournament is definitely a boutique tournament with its own brand emerging in the special historical situation. It is also a new bright spot of Boutique sports in China, in line with the Beijing People’s Government’s general strategic goal of “making Beijing into an eventsLive centre and a central city of international sports”.
As is reported the Beijing International Polo Open Tournament is to be held every year since this one. The continuous holding of polo match will be conducive to the benign and sustainable development of polo in China, become a new spotlight and an opportunity in integrating Beijing Boutique sports into the international system. This event, aiming at carrying forward the essence of the Chinese traditional culture, is also devoted to shaping the brand image of Beijing Boutique sports and top-level tourism, promoting Beijing sports industry, accelerating the pace of building Beijing into a sports centre. It is a gift for the 60th birthday for People’s Republic of China.