Following two successful editions of the Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan, World Polo GmbH now raises the stakes and presents the 1st FIP Arena Polo European Championship Azerbaijan in Baku in September.
Azerbaijan is known as the birthplace of polo and in 2013, the sport returned to Baku with the Grass Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan. In the past two years World Polo organised two successful polo events in the Azerbaijani capital, under the direction of Reto Gaudenzi and in cooperation with the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic (ARAF) and the Elite Horse and Polo Club Bina. Following the huge success of the past two years, this year’s edition of the tournament will be even bigger: from 4-12 September 2015, six teams with a handicap of 6 to 8 goals from Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and a local team from Azerbaijan will fight for the title of the 1st FIP Arena Polo European Championship Azerbaijan. The event will be organised by World Polo in association with ARAF and the Elite Horse and Polo Club Bina.
In December 2014, at its general assembly the Federation of International Polo (FIP) commissioned the organisation of the 1st FIP Arena Polo European Championship in the history of polo to Azerbaijan. During the first weekend of September, the teams will compete against each other in action-filled matches, that will be held in an indoor sand arena. From 10-12 September 2015 the teams will face each other at the second weekend in an outdoor grass arena. This means a total of 18 highly competitive matches at the tournament. Each participating team will consist of three players and two substitutes. La Martina will be official supplier of the tournament. For event the organizers will provide a pool of 72 argentine polo horses from Alegría Polo Farm and Garros Polo Farm Argentina. Since its successful first appearance at the Grass Arena Polo World Cup Azerbaijan in the past year, the host team from Azerbaijan has made tremendous progress and will be eagerly awaited by the spectators!