Tehran & Karaj, Iran
Kanoon Chogan Polo Club & Ghasr Firoozeh Polo
Polo Federation of I.R.Iran - Oct 4th – 10th, 2008
"The horizon is the edge of your polo field,
The earth is the ball in the curve of your polo stick.
Until you are blotted out of existence as the dust,
Gallop and press on your horse for the ground is yours"
(Omar Khayyam- Iranian philosopher).

The 63rd Fip Ambassadors Cup was a huge success and the perfect occation to build the international Family of Polo . 

Polo was invented and first played in Iran (or ancient persia) thousand years ago. The original name of polo is "Chogan" and in Iran the game is still refered to as "Chogan".

In the 16th Century AD, a polo ground (300 yards long and with goal posrt 8 yards apart) was built by Shah Abbas the Great, at Esfahan, the the capital of the Safavid Persian Emprire. The Iranian monarch would watch polo matches from his terrace at the Ali Ghapu Palace.

The polo field witch is called “Meydaneh Naghsheh Jahan” still exist today and is dimensions are the standard for polo fields across the globe.

Omar Khayyam, the Iranian philosopher, astronomer, mathematician and poet used polo as a mens of making his philosophical Points. Dinvari, the 9th century Persian astronomer and historian, offered general rules for the game, wicth included the avoidance of strong languages and an attempt at patience. Iranians take great pride in the fact that they created such a beautiful game.

The event was hosted by the Kanoon Chogan Polo Club and the Ghasr Firoozeh Polo Club and Mr. Hamzeh Ilkhanizadeh, President, Iranian Polo Federation
The activities includes trips to several of the agnificnt sights and wonders of Iran.

Tournament Committee:
Siamack Ilkhanizadeh - Mohammad Reza Shappri
Amir Ali Zolfaghari - Ghazaleh Amir Ebrahimi

Umpires: Ricardo Mihanovich - Amir Ali Zolfaghari
Referee: Yusuf Ali Baig

TEAMS
 

63rd FIP AMBASSADORS CUP EVENT PROGRAM

Day 1, Oct 4th, 2008
Guests arrived to the Esteghlal Hotel in Teheran .
8:00 pm Dinner at the Da Vinci Restaurant in Tehran
 
Day 2, Oct. 5th, 2008
• Sightseeing in Tehran
• Lunch at the Esteghlal Hotel
• Afternoon: Trip to Kanoon Chogan at Karaj (50 km west of Tehran).

Kanoon Chogan.
• Presentation of teams, team jerseys, and horses
• Polo, first day of matches
• Dinner at Kanoon Chogan
 
Day 3, Oct. 6th, 2008
• Depart for the Abbasi Hotel in Esfahan
• Lunch in Esfahan
• Sightseeing in Esfahan- Bazaar, Khajoo Bridge, Thirty Three Bridges, Chehel Sotoon
• Dinner in Esfahan
 
Day 4, Oct. 7th, 2008
• Sightseeing In Esfahan – Ali Ghapu Palace, Naghsheh Jahan Polo Field, Masjed Imam, Shiekh Lotfollah Mosque, Naghsheh Jahan Bazaar, Madreseh Chahar Bagh
• Lunch in Esfahan and Dinner at the Nayeb Restaurant, Tehran
 
Day 5, Oct. 8th, 2008
• Trip to Saadabad Palace
• Lunch in Tehran
Trip to Ghasr Firoozeh Polo Club in East Tehran.
Polo, second day of matches
Dinner at the Zolfaghari Restaurant
 
Day 6, Oct. 9th, 2008
Trip to Golestan Palace and Carpet Museum
Lunch in Tehran
Trip to Ghasr Firoozeh Polo Club in East Tehran.
Polo, Final Matches, Presentation of Awards
Dinner at Spanish Ambassador's residence in Tehran
 
Day 7, Oct. 10th, 2008
Players return home.

Official Hotel in Tehran: Esteghlal Hotel
Official Hotel in Esfahan: Abbasi Hotel

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