One of the stars: the world class players.
The Polo Club Gstaad and it’s president Pierre Genecand from Geneva (initiator and president for many years of the show jumping world cup there) are looking forward to welcoming four world class teams to the Bernese Oberland despite the big competition with the tournaments that will be taking place at the same time in Sotogrande (E) and Deauville (F).
One of the reasons why the pros from Argentina have decided to participate is most likely the status of the HSBC Guyerzeller Gold Cup in the World Polo Tour WPT as there are valuable points to be won during this tournament (category Challenge Cup) for the world-ranking list of the players.
Four of the in total 17 Argentinean handicap 8 players will be present in Gstaad: Pablo Jauretche, Santiago Chavanne, Alejandro Agote as well as Julio who is part of the strong Novillo Astrada Dynasty. What one is also looking forward to are the patrons who are responsible for the assembling of the teams, especially the no 15 ranked amateur, Stefano Marsaglia from Italy (team Land Rover) who is a very active high goal polo player in England, this year not being any different to others with him competing in the Queen’s Cup as well as the British Open (the most important tournament in Europe which he has already won) with his team Azzurra.
The team of the Englishman Andrew Foreman, owner of the Beverly Polo Club in Yorkshire, will be playing in the colours of Nespresso and have the Frenchman Christophe Levrat, president of the Polo Club de Lyon, as one of their players.
Of course one is very curious to see how the patrons Philipp Maeder, Swiss (team
HSBC Guyerzeller), and Robert Kofler, Austrian (team Gstaad Palace), will hold their ground amongst this very highly quoted amateur field of competitors.
The other stars: the guests.
As is tradition thousands of horse lovers from all circles and regions of Switzerland (as well as from abroad) will be expected in the Bernese Oberland. One of the reasons for them coming will most certainly be the spectacular parade through the little chalet village with drinks for all attending afterwards on the Friday on which no games are played.
Welcoming illustrious people from both political, economical as well as financial/business circles is also part of the tradition. Members of German royal families, ambassadors from South American States and various stars from show business have announced that they will be attending.
Also part of this tradition of Gstaad is, and we hope that the media will understand this, that we will not disclose any names in the forefront of such an event in order to uphold the discretion of this relaxing holiday oasis that has most probably attracted so many celebrities from all over the world.
Big media response already weeks prior to this top event.
Not only is this tournament in high demand amongst the guests (the VIP seats as well as the supporting events such as the polo night on Saturday are already partly sold out) but also amongst the national and international media (to date approx. 100 media from 10 countries have registered) who are being accredited at the press office such as 7 TV stations from Switzerland, Germany and South America.