Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club to Host Third Annual Snow Polo World Cup in January 2014

Nov. 8, 2013, TIANJIN, China /PRNewswire/ -- Polo is widely credited as the most thrilling of team sports – the thunder of hooves, the thwack of the mallet, the courage, skill and poise of the players. So what could be more exciting than 12 of the world's premier polo nations coming together to do battle? They could be doing it in the snow.

In front of international and Chinese media and distinguished guests of honour from the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and the Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA), it was announced that the Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup 2014, the largest snow polo tournaments of its kind in the world, will take place for the third year running at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club.

The action will get underway on 8 January 2014, and continue until the grand final on 19 January. Last year's winners Hong Kong China will return to the snow to defend their title, with 11 other 14-16 goal handicap teams vying to prise the trophy from their grasp: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, and the USA.

With all the action and physicality of traditional field polo, snow polo is even more fast-paced due to the smaller playing field and the snow-packed surface, presenting a fascinating challenge to horses and players. The ball, made of inflatable vinyl, is more unpredictable in flight than the standard polo ball, and teams consist of three players rather than the traditional four. Snow polo is a tradition that originated in the glamorous ski resorts of Switzerland, but it is rapidly acquiring a new home in China at the Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club.  

China's premier international polo facility, Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club has garnered global acclaim hosting some of the most exciting polo tournaments in the international calendar. In 2013, the Club was the venue for Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup, Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup, Maserati Metropolitan Polo Classic and Metropolitan Intervarsity Polo Tournaments.

The 2014 season looks set to be even more prestigious, kicking off in fitting style with the third Fortune Heights Snow Polo World Cup. The draw for the tournament took place at Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club on 6 November 2013, administered by FIP appointed Tournament Director, Mr. Peter Abisheganaden.

Teams were drawn from seeding tiers into three groups of four, with the groups split into two zones. The top four teams from each zone will advance to the quarterfinal elimination stage. Top seeds Hong Kong China and England will face each other in what is arguably the standout contest of the group stage. Hong Kong China triumphed over England in the Grand Final of the Fortune Heights Super Nations Cup in October 2013, so England will surely be looking to enact revenge and ensure their progression to the quarterfinal stages.

At the press conference, honoured guest Mr. Shi Shugang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Equestrian Association, talked of "polo fever sweeping through Tianjin", and noted that the Snow Polo World Cup 2014 is helping China continue to build on its distinguished history of sporting achievement. "We hope that the 'sport of kings' will also one day find its place in China's rich sporting pantheon," said Mr. Shi.

The ancient traditions of polo stretch back to China's Tang Dynasty over 1,000 years ago. Mr. Xing Jiangang from the Tianjin Sports Bureau expressed his delight that the city of Tianjin, "with a long and rich history, and a dynamic and prosperous future", should be the setting where polo flourishes once again in China.

Representing the Federation of International Polo, Mr. Roderick Vere Nicoll was proud to be supporting the Snow Polo World Club 2014, calling it "the largest and most important snow polo tournament in the world". Asked about his teams to watch for the tournament, Mr. Vere Nicoll admitted it was wide open. "Hong Kong China and England are playing very well at the moment, but South Africa has a very strong team too. It'll also be fascinating to see how Mexico gets along, as they are newcomers in the sport of snow polo."

With polo fans and supporters set to descend on Tianjin from around the world in January 2014, the action off the field promises to be just as exciting. Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club will establish its very own 'Nordic Wonderland' and offer world-class hospitality, cuisine and luxury leisure events for polo lovers and their families, befitting an event at the very pinnacle of the polo calendar.

Official Website: http://www.snowpoloworldcup.com

Enclosed: Play Schedule

About Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club

Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club currently features two standard-size polo fields, stabling for over 200 horses, all-weather training facilities, a riding school and a luxurious Club House and 167-room resort-style hotel. The state-of-the-art equestrian facilities are used and maintained by professionals from all over the world.

Apart from being the host venue of the 2012 and 2013 FIP Snow Polo World Cup, major international fixtures on the Club's annual calendar include various spring and autumn tournaments and matches for different levels of play from youth to professional.

Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club was opened in November 2010 as the sporting and social flagship of "Goldin Metropolitan", a mega-development by Hong Kong-listed developer Goldin Properties Holdings Limited comprising three zones: a Central Business District, home to the 117-storey Goldin Finance 117; the 898,000 square metre (222-acre) Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club and Fortune Heights, a low density luxury residence.

About Federation of International Polo (FIP)

The Federation of International Polo (FIP), founded in 1982, is the international body governing the sport of polo recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and includes 59 National Federations as full members. Polo has been played in the Olympics and is growing in popularity all over the world.  Polo is a sport of horse and player.  Men and women compete together in this contact sport as players are handicapped and games have a handicap range.  While polo has primarily been played outdoors on a large green field, variations of the sport such as snow, beach and indoor polo are emerging and gaining popularity. FIP aims to develop rules for the safe conduct of the sport for both horse and player.  Competition, sportsmanship and compliance with international rules of fair play are at the core of our sporting ethos.

SOURCE Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club