Joy Countess du
Lau d’Allemans named VP of International Beach Polo Association
Joy Countess du Lau d’Allemans has been named Vice
President of the International Beach
Polo Association and will be working with the non-profit organization to
coordinate affiliated charities that will participate in a World Beach Polo
Tour©.
Joy
has been active in charitable causes for some time now and it was felt that her
international contacts and experience with charities on a local, national and
international will be invaluable to the Association.
“I’ve always been a big fan of the game,” Joy
said, “and the opportunity to join work with charities and causes on a
worldwide basis and participate in this most exciting of games is a rare
opportunity.”
Joy began riding at an early age and did her
share of showing. Although her prowess
on the polo field hasn’t been put to the test she can be seen mallet in hand
hitting the ball around.
“There’s something very regal about the field
game,” she offered, “but I believe the intimacy that is offered by a beach polo
arena has a great deal to offer. Whereas
so many times a game of field polo serves as merely a backdrop for a cocktail
party, the proximity of the players and horses in beach polo forces the
spectators to get involved.”
With current beach polo venues ranging from
Argentina to Germany, from Australia and India to England; the game has
exploded with its own special brand of the sport
of kings.
“I believe that there is a sense of noblesse
oblige that goes hand-in-hand with a noble sport like polo,” Joy added. “The fact that a great many people are
enjoying a day or two of heated competition, cocktail parties and great
companionship while raising monies to enrich the lives of children in need, a
local community or helping to combat a particular disease or blight, for
instance shows a definitive social conscience with which I wholeheartedly
support.”
“We’re looking for more than her charitable
support,” said International Beach Polo Association Chairman, Alex Webbe. “We’ll be looking to her to assist in the
direction and production of a number of the many fashion shows that accompany our
eventsLive.”
The 6’ 1” former model was signed by Eileen Ford
herself while in her early teens, and doesn’t fail to turn eyes when she enters
a room.
“I have to admit that her appearance is an added
bonus when it comes to approaching and coordinating efforts with charitable
institutions,” said Webbe, “combined with her international experience in the
field and many well-placed contacts, we feel very lucky to have her join us.”
The appointment comes as the International Beach
Polo Association continues to spread its global wings in an effort to bring the
game of polo to a wider audience.
“Polo has always been looked upon as a sport of
the elite,” added Webbe, “but we believe that the much more casual approach
taken by beach polo sets fans and spectators alike at ease from the first
throw-in.”
Recently referred to by the International Polo
Federation’s marketing expert, Bruce Colley, beach polo attracts more
spectators than any other form of the game in the world.
The IBPA is already scheduled to organize an
event in China with a number of other sites clamoring for a like-event. The addition of Joy Countess du Lau
d’Allemans to the Association ranks will only serve to further the growth and
popularity of the horse and mallet game.