Excitement Builds as XI FIP World Polo Championship Approaches

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The countdown is on to one of the premier competitions in the world of polo, the XI Federation of International Polo World Polo Championship in Sydney, Australia.

The championship celebrates its 30^th anniversary during this year's event, which runs October 21-29 at Sydney Polo Club. It will be broadcast on Eurosport, which reaches 151 million homes in 54 countries and in 20 languages, on November 6.

U.S. Polo Assn., the official apparel supplier, will be prominently represented throughout the event, outfitting all eight teams with official team jerseys, equipment bags, hats and vests. The USA Team is one of eight teams that qualified for the competition and will be outfitted with exclusive team blazers and off-field casual apparel.

"We are proud to participate as an official sponsor of the FIP World Polo Championship in Australia," USPA Global Licensing President/CEO, David Cummings said. "Our brand honors the polo tradition and directly supports the sport's initiatives. We're thrilled to spread that message to a new audience as we root for the USA Team to take home the World Cup."

The USA Team is considered a favorite in Sydney and will first compete for the championship against power house Argentina, as well as Australia, Chile, England, Spain, India and New Zealand. In 2015, Team Captain Felipe Viana led the USA Team to the finals of the X FIP World Polo Championship, where they lost by one goal to Chile in overtime.

The USA Team last won the championship in 1989, taking home the perpetual trophy, which was donated by the late Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh for the first FIP Polo World Polo Championship that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1987. The historic trophy has travelled all over the world and will be on display at the Sydney Polo Club ready to be claimed by the championship team.

The United States Polo Association®, the national governing body, and the U.S. Polo Assn. brand will be in Sydney to support the USA Team players Jimmy Wright, Jesse Bray, Felipe Viana, Matias Gonzales, Daniel "Cacho" Galindo and Carlucho Arellano as they compete for this year's title.

"We have worked hard and pushed ourselves to get to this point," Viana said. "It's exciting to have that hard work pay off and enable us to compete at this level among the best players in the world."

This year's nine-day event provides a well-rounded offering of activities to appeal to families and people of all ages and will include an adult and kids U.S. Polo Assn. fashion show, live music daily at various locations in the International Village, an art exhibition and children's activities.

A favorite activity is the Divot Stomp at halftime. Spectators are invited onto the field to replace the divots that have been kicked up by ponies' hooves.

The FIP World Polo Championship is held every three years. It is a competitive tournament held at the 10-to-14 goal level, with each player to be handicapped between 2 and 5 goals. Horses are provided by the host and pooled among participating nations to give teams equal playing conditions.

About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global Licensing Inc.

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the nonprofit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States since 1890, with products that enjoy worldwide distribution through independent retail, department, online and U.S. Polo Assn. stores, selling clothing for men, women and children, as well as accessories, bags, luggage, watches, footwear and home items in more than 144 countries.

USPA Global Licensing Inc. (USPAGL) is the for-profit subsidiary of the USPA, and the exclusive worldwide licensor for the USPA's global licensing program. USPAGL is the steward of the USPA's intellectual properties, providing the sport with a long-term source of revenue. In addition to providing royalties to the sport, USPAGL also produces best-in-class global broadcasts to fulfill its goal of bringing polo to the world.

About the Federation of International Polo

FIP (Federation of International Polo) is the international federation representing the sport of polo, officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. It was created in 1982 by representatives of eleven national polo associations. FIP's principal aim is to enhance the image and status of the great game of polo internationally. FIP's mission is to promote the practice of the sport of polo worldwide in order to defend and ensure the spirit of fair play and moral fortitude, with the objective of forming the sporting attitude of gentlemanly behavior during and after the game, on the playing fields and wherever polo players should meet, so as to form one great world polo family.

About the United States Polo Association®

The U.S. Polo Association was organized and exists for the purposes of promoting the game of polo, coordinating the activities of its member clubs and registered players, arranging and supervising polo tournaments, competitions and games, and providing rules, handicaps, and conditions for those tournaments, competitions, and games including the safety and welfare of participants and mounts.

Founded in 1890, the United States Polo Association (USPA) is the national governing body for the sport of polo. USPA is currently comprised of almost 300 member clubs with thousands of individual members, and oversees 40 national tournaments. For more information, please visit uspolo.org.

For info media inquiries:

USPAGL Contact:   

Shannon Stilson                                             
USPA Global Licensing                                
+001.561.227.6994                
[email protected]

FIP Contact:             

Felipe del Sel
Federation of International Polo                                
[email protected]

USPA Contact:         

Matt Baran
United States Polo Association®
+001.561.373.4954
[email protected]

Related Images

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Felipe Viana - USA TEAM

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USA TEAM

SOURCE U.S. Polo Assn., United States Polo Association, Federation of International Polo