Polo & More 2014
Polo & More 2014
Polo has many incarnations apart from the traditional grass polo game, there is bicycle polo, snow polo and the very quirky
elephant polo. As an extension of their horse polo activities and as a part of the banking group’s connections with polo
enthusiasts, EFG began their support for elephant polo in Nepal. Keith Gapp was “initially sceptical” but now loves it. “It’s the
ultimate niche, characterised by British eccentricity you have to see it played to appreciate it.” EFG’s Robert Mehm has since
become a keen elephant polo player and has also won a number of elephant polo championships.
On the subject of off shoots of polo, EFG also sponsored the England team at the O2 Arena in 2011. They were also one of
first international sponsors of polo in China with the Shanghai Open in 2008, an extension of their Cartier co-sponsorship. The
bank has no current plans to repeat this exercise, but will, however “sponsor Cambridge University peripherally when they go
there on tour.”
The bank co-sponsored the original UK international with Cartier for 3 years from 2008 to 2011 but, “didn’t like the
direction the event was going in” in common with Arnaud Bamberger of Cartier himself, who was quoted in a similar vein when
he switched to sponsoring the Queen’s Cup in 2012.
“EFG identified polo as a good vehicle for their
brand and have now been involved in polo for 7 years,
not just here but throughout Europe. They have been
great supporters and always seem willing to look at
sponsoring any level in any country. In this way they
have managed to connect to a wide range of players,
international, patrons and students, and I would
imagine that they have achieved excellent value for
money,” is the view of HPA Chairman David Woodd.
“The number of years we have been doing polo
testifies to our happiness with our participation, we
have established a reputation and found a way of
involvement that works for us and for the sport,” Keith
Gapp concludes n
Top: EFG: World Elephant Polo Champions 2010, 2011 and
2013
Bottom: Team Argentina, winners of the Coronation Cup
2009
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