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.

 

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.

 

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