FIP Newsletter_Vol.24 Aug 2015 - Federation of international Polo

FEDERATION OF
INTERNATIONAL POLO
SPECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST:

London
Road to
Olympics

Pan Am
Games in FIP
future?

Welcome
Olivia to FIP

V O L U M E
2 4
A U G U S T
2 0 1 5
FIP Executive
Committee in

FIP Newsletter
FIP funded
kid’s clinic

Malta

Morocco

Social Media
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
IOC application—results
3
New BA Staff 3
member
Pan Am
Games
4
Malta and
Morocco
5
Coronel Suarez children
5
Communications/Media
6
FIP Championships
6
Message from the President
We are pleased to announce
that, thanks to Sandy in the
US and Felipe in BA, in future
all FIP Newsletters will go out
in both English & Spanish
which should improve our
circulation and better serve
the Federation. We have also
reached a milestone in our
social media initiative achieving over 5,000 followers on
Instagram which makes FIP
the highest of all Association
polo sites and in the past five
months our Twitter account
has received over 3 Million
views.
Sincere thanks must go to all
the Members of the Executive Committee who flew
from all over the world to
attend the mid-year meeting
of the EC in London in July
and we are extremely grateful to the Hurlingham Polo
Association for facilitating
these meetings and including
us in the HPA International
Day programme of events, it
was much appreciated and
enjoyed by all.
The EC meetings were held
over three days and the
packed agenda covered aspects from finance, marketing, communications, administrative structure, Zones,
Pan-American Games and
endorsements through to
proposals for the next World
and European Championships. The meetings were
extremely progressive and
have set the programme for
the next twelve months with
a lot of hard work to be done.
The key to progress can be
summed up in one word:
`Communications’! We are
currently in the process of
contacting all our Member
Associations to ensure that
our records are up to date to
make certain that we are
communicating directly with
the Association or through an
individual who has been officially nominated by their governing body. That way we
hope to cement a closer bond
between FIP and its Member
Associations. If you have not
completed the form, or not
received one then please let
us know as we need this information urgently.
Once this has been done, FIP
will be in a better position to
be able to encourage our
Associations to participate
more in decision making, especially when it comes to
such delicate subjects as creating sub-zones and more
coordinators for better control and communication. Piero Dillier, who has great experience in such matters, is in
the process of assisting us to
define the duties of the Zone
Directors and advise us on
the structure for the administration of the sub-zones.
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Message from the President
The EC also reviewed the current process for nomination
and voting at the General
Assembly for Members of the
Council of Administration and
more details on this will be
released prior to the forthcoming GA. We are currently
considering a system where
candidates need to be officially nominated by their National Associations prior to
the General Assembly to ensure that the representatives
of the voting Associations in
attendance at the GA are fully
aware of who the competing
candidates are when they
cast their votes. We will be
communicating directly with
the eligible Associations prior
to the GA to stress the importance of encouraging
them all to participate in this
process.
High on the agenda were the
discussions on the FIP European Championships in Germany next
year, a formal
presentation
will be made at
the GA in December. It is
envisaged that
with around 10
teams particiPhotos on this page: Tony Ramirez of www.Imagesofpolo.com
pating that some of the
games and the Final will be
played at the Maifeld Stadium in Berlin where polo was
last played as an Olympic
sport in 1936. The FIP World
Polo Championships in either
2017 or 2018 were also discussed to ensure we have
plenty of time to ensure the
event’s success. Presently we
have three interested nations
and formal presentations will
be made in December this
year to the EC, C of A and the
General Assembly for a final
decision.
On the International Rules
front, dialogue had been ongoing between FIP the AAP,
HPA and USPA to ensure direct participation from the
three major Associations on
the FIP International Rules
Committee to try and encourage more uniformity and to
try and analyse ways to
standardise a set of rules that
can be used as the FIP International Polo Rules in the
future. FIP will also be creating a `Discipline Section’ on
its website which will be kept
updated with current information on all disciplinary actions communicated to us by
our Member Associations.
Finally FIP has started its
Brand Protection Programme
by initiating the registration
process for its Trademark in
various countries and it was
confirmed that the FIP book
will be ready for distribution
to our Member Associations
at this year’s General Assembly and we were also discussing progress on proposed
books on; Children’s Polo
Around the World, Polo in the
Olympics and one on Advice
to Polo Commentators which
are all new initiatives.
So, all in all, an intensive but
productive series of meetings
which will further the sterling
work done by my predecessor Richard Caleel and
strengthen the Federation for
the future.
I look forward to hearing your
views and to seeing as many
delegates as possible at the
General Assembly in December in Buenos Aires.
With kind regards,
PAGE
3
FIP Welcomes Olivia Donnelly to B.A. Administration Office
The FIP Administration Office
in Buenos Aires has a wonderful new addition to our staff.:
Olivia Donnelly.
She brings a wide spectrum of
accomplishments and experience to the FIP B.A. office,
Fluent in both English and
Spanish (native) she has a degree in marketing from Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES).
Olivia Donnelly
odonnelly@fippolo.com
She brings many skills to our
New sports must
be a "driving force
to promote the
Olympic
Movement and its
values, with a
focus on youth
appeal"
Fujio Mitarai
FIP office from her previous
employers including four years
with the Argentine Polo
Association where she conducted business as an Independent Research Consultant
Market study of the polo industry and its contribution to
the Argentine economy,
She was also Assistant Manager of tournaments and competitions; Handicaps and fees
Administrator (registration,
payment and follow up); Relationship Manager of players
and clubs. Press collaborator;
Media development content.
Her interests are:
Sports enthusiast, nature
admirer, avid reader, international traveler, photography (lab work, black and
white photos).
Olivia will be working out of
FIP’s Buenos Aires office along
with CEO Alex Taylor and
Felipe del Sel.
FIP applied to Tokyo 2020 Olympics
“This is a significant step forwards in our efforts to introduce polo into the Olympic
Games. When the Olympics
are scheduled in a country that
has an active Polo Federation,
we will have a much stronger
opportunity to be included as
an additional sport in those
Olympic games.”
Dr. Richard T. Caleel, FIP Executive Committee
Following the application
process:
The decision, compiled from a
list of 26 applicants, was made
following a meeting of the
Tokyo's 2020 Additional
Events Programme Panel in the
Japanese capital chaired by the
head of imaging giants Canon
Fujio Mitarai.
(See story below)
Baseball and softball lead eight federations
shortlisted for Tokyo 2020 inclusion
Baseball and softball, karate,
squash, bowling, roller sports,
climbing, surfing and wushu are
the eight sports nominated for
the next stage of the application process to be added to
the sports programme for the
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it
has been announced. The
decision, compiled from a list
of 26 applicants, was made
FIP
NEWSLETTER
today following a meeting of
the Tokyo's 2020 Additional
Events Programme Panel in the
Japanese capital.
The list holds few surprises,
with baseball and softball long
seen as the favourites to be
restored to the Olympic programme follow their exclusion
after Beijing 2008.
Those 18 that have been unsuccessful consist of air
sports, American football,
bowls, bridge, chess, dancesport, floorball, flying disc, korfball, netball, orienteering, polo,
racquetball, snooker, sumo,
tug of war, underwater sports
and water skiing.
More: http://
www.insidethegames.biz/
articles/1028190/baseball-andsoftball-lead-eight-federationsshortlisted-for-tokyo-2020inclusion
VOLUME
24
PAGE
4
Pan Am Games a possibility for Polo?
known as Pan American Sports
Organization (PASO) which is
the governing body of the Pan
American Games.
A Federation of International
Polo (FIP) Delegation met with
the Organización Deportiva
Panamericana (ODEPA) also
The Delegation representing FIP
included Guillermo Steta Mondragon, President of the Federación
Mexicana De Polo, Estuardo (Tayo)
Masias, representing the Federacion
Deportiva Peruana de Polo and
Patrick M. Nesbitt, Secretary General (Designate) Pan American Polo
Confederation (in Formation).
The FIP Delegation met with Dr.
Julio C. Maglione, President and
Jimena Saldana, Secretary General
of PASO. Also attending the meeting was Mr. Carlos Padilla Becerra,
the President of Comité Olímpico
Mexicano and,Mr. José Quiñones
González, the President of the
Comité Olímpico Peruano.
The FIP Delegation’s objective was
to explore the possibility of returning polo to the Pan American
Games. Pan American Games are
the largest sporting event in the
world outside the Olympic Games.
Next Steps to Pan Am Games Peru 2019….
“Communicati
ons will be
crucial in the
application
protocol for
inclusion in the
2019 Pan
In order to be considered for inclusion in the 2019 Pan American
Games in Lima, Peru, polo needs
the support of the National Olympic Committees (NOC) of each of
the polo playing countries in the
Pan American region., The National Polo Associations of each country must receive a letter from their
NOC that states that their National
Polo Association is a member in
American
good standing of the NOC., FIP
will be circulating a draft of a
letter in English and Spanish in
the form acceptable to PASO
that will need to be signed by the
leadership of each country’s
NOC.
Games”
This matter will be reviewed in
more detail at the next FIP General Assembly in Buenos Aires,
December 10, 2015.
National Association Contact Updates
If you have not yet replied to
the President’s call to update
your National Association
“Main (preferred) Contact”
please take the time to do it
now.
Please check you SPAM to
make sure that mail from
Many associations replied right
away, but others received the email (according to our Mailchimp
records) but did not reply.
FIP is making a monumental effort
to keep our records online and on
Mailchimp up to date so that we
may serve you better.
office@fippolo.com, President@fippolo.com, or anyone else
on our staff with a fippolo.com
address does not go to SPAM.
We want to hear from
you and hope you’re
receiving our messages
in a timely manner. If
you need assistance
with checking SPAM or
approving
*@fippolo.com addresses, let us know and we
will try to help.
sandy@fippolo.com
VOLUME
24
PAGE
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The Malta Polo Club was established in 1868, a fact which qualifies the club
as the oldest in Europe and the second oldest polo club worldwide
THE CAWNPORE CUP (19012015) - Saturday 23rd May
2015
On Saturday 13th June the Malta
Polo Club held the most prestigious and final match of the
Club’s playing season - The
Cawnpore Cup – A trophy first
contested in 1901, at Cawnpore
India, some 115 years ago (the
site of the infamous "Cawnpore
Massacre" in 1857). Gifted to
the Malta Polo Club in 1947,
the Cup has been played for
annually with the exception of
the war years. The highest
handicapped polo players in the
Club are eligible to play in the
Cawnpore Cup, and this year’s
teams included a fine selection
of the Clubs best players.
Story and photo: Caroline Lockwood virtualmedic@melita.com
Coronel Suarez, Argentina, hosts their annual FIP sponsored children’s clinic
Players arrive a week before the
tournament and are staying home
families who are responsible for
them and try polo horses for the
tournament. During the tournament they relate to all players from
other countries and activities to
socialize and make new friends
develop.
The tournament is published in all
the journals of international polo as
in local newspapers and also sponsored by the Argentine Polo Association.
The impact is very positive because is a younger
tournament and to
much people want to
participate and the good
will of the club giving a
huge support for these
events. It is very important to have the support of FIP for these
activities and attaches
great importance to the
tournament. The children make
new friends and interact across
cultures.
“We want to
encourage all
of our
members to
apply for
youth and
umpire clinics
Story and Photos: Tournament Organizer:
Erasmo Goti mitogoti@hotmail.com
FIP funding.”
PGH LA PALMERAIE POLO CLUB—Morocco
Polo started in Marrakech in the
early 1980’s, when Patrick Guerrand-Hermes established a private
club in the Palmeraie. At the end of
the 1990’s, Patrick left Marrakech
and started a new organization in
northern Morocco, at Larache. He
founded the first African horse
artificial insemination centre at
Busafi. In 2014, a new polo club has
been created. Named PGH La
Palmeraie Polo Club, the club is
located not far from Assilah.
People will sleep in a very comfortable village with beautiful Moroccan tents, set up for people who
want to join us for the tournament.
The tent village will be built inside
the Polo Club on the Sidi Mghayt
private beach next to the Club.
The club provides many attractions
sponsored by
such as surfs, kayaks, jet skis, quads and golf
cars for the players and their families. More
information on the 2015 Summer Tournament
Contact Rabii BENADADA benadada@gmail.com
Follow FIP on social media (click icons above.)
FIP Newsletter now available in Spanish too!
Federation of International Polo (FIP)
President’s office:
Nicholas J.A. Colquhoun-Denvers Esq.
Want to share your news? Send us:
1.
Tournament/Event info and/or invitations to FIP
Members
2 Dorchester Court
2.
Clinic stories and photos, especially if FIP funded
77-81 Sloane Street
3.
Announcements and news of interest to all FIP
members
: +(44) 20 7486 2600
Mobile: +(44) 7880 555555
4.
“Save the date” for special events
Fax: +(44) 207486 2700
5.
Ambassador events: golf, polo, other events
E-mail: president@fippolo.com
6.
Changes to FIP Directory or contact lists
Send to sandy@fippolo.com
Worldwide Governing Body of Polo
We’re on the web!
www.fippolo.com
Hosting the FIP World Polo Championships
Applications are now being received
by FIP for hosting Zone Playoffs and
the next FIP World Championships.
FIP World Championships are held
every three years preceded by Zone
Playoffs. This will be the 11th FIP
World Championship.
The Guidelines for these tournaments, including how to apply, are
located on the FIP website: http://
www.fippolo.com/resource-guide/
In cooperation with your National
Association, you may apply to FIP to
host either zone playoff games or the
FIP World Championship, held every
3 years. It is a commitment requiring
quite a long “lead time” to organize
sponsorships, venues, logistics, organizational groups, and volunteers.
Your Zone Director can also be of
assistance in contacting other FIP
National Associations to assist.
(In part) A FIP Full Member country
may apply or be asked to apply to
host a Zone qualifying tournament or
the World Championships. The FIP
shall inform the Host country, usually
via the Zone Coordinator after the
annual General Assembly in December, that their application to host a
FIP tournament has been accepted.
The Host Country may delegate all
rights and obligations contained in the
present, relating to the organization
and operation of the World Polo
Championship, in a club or another
institution only with the previous
express approval of the FIP, which
may be refused without explanation
of cause. In this case the local Polo
Association will retain their status as
jointly responsible to the FIP for the
fulfilment of the duties and obligations
of the person or entity delegated and
contingencies arising from the tournament organization.
For complete procedures: click
here.
Or contact: office@fippolo.com
Planning has already started for the 11th
FIP World Polo Championship.