| Ambassadors Cup |
Enlarging the polo community...The rank of Ambassador of FIP was created when the Federation was founded with the objective of promoting the idea within their own Polo Associations and in this manner increase the number of countries. Federation of International Polo (FIP) has organized more than 60 ambassadors Cup Tournament to encourage its member countries to sponsor children’s programs in their country for players 14 years of age and under. The Ambassadors have not only been a great success in that, their efforts have made also founded a splendid international family of goodwill and continually help and foster good relations between the international polo community.   click to see large image Ambassadors Trophies are staged in an effort to revive the amateur spirit of the game, played for pleasure rather than to win at any cost. To foster global camaraderie among players past and present, different national polo associations annually host three or four of these tournaments under FIP auspices. Typically eight teams play over a week , hosted and mounted by local players, with everyone paying a tournament fee to the FIP, accounting for 25 percent of its annual budget.   HISTORY OF HOW FIP DELEGATES AND ABBASSADORS CUP STARTED (By Marcos Uranga) SECTION 1 For it,s development and organization FIP according to its By Laws needs to have in April / July a Council of Administration meeting and in October /December an Assambly. ALSO it is very important to create the spirit and friendship to meet each other from so different and distant parts of the World to develop a way for international camadery FIP doesn,t pay any sort of travelling expenses to any member .We had to do something attractive !!! We had to build up the International Family of Polo.The best way IS PLAYING AND ENJOYING POLO Under this circunstances we created the Delegates Cup to be played by the delegate representing each country, at that time 6 /8 atending and willing to play. The first one was at the Jockey Club in Buenos Aires at the mid 80s from which I remember Dante Fava from Italy and Lucho Vial from Chile. The success was so big that next year we had to move for 10 years to Puerta Abierta in Open Door with 3 fields and 8 teams playing.IT became " The beginning of a wonderful party " The first Delegates Cup .out from Argentina was in Palm Beach organized by Allan Scherer and George Haas with 2 teams composed by 8 players from different countries The sco re was 4 equals Two very important steps were given at this meeting : A ) John Kilmartin President of the Australian Polo Council made this country join FIP as the 1rst member of the Comonwealth B ) The Swises Reto Gaudenzi and Mario Zindel agreed to organize the 2nd WC in Berlin in August 1989 . This is the only WC played with horses of each playing country. By sanitary reasons Australia had to rent their horses in England . It is very important to mention that James Ashton is the only player to participate in 2 WC and being President of the Australian Polo Council organize an extraordinary World Championship with an excellent lot of horses. Today he continues doing his great contribution as Treasurer of FIP Little by little at the end of the 80s we realized that FIP had lots of supporters of different countries , not members of their local Asociations that were of great help and created important links with their countries. This made us decide to create a body up to 50 Ambassadors elected by FIP with a 3 year mandate with voice but no vote. Their mission is to promoteand develop FIP activities in their countries and at large The first Ambassadors Cup was played in Palm Springs organized by Glen Holden with a great help of Pat Nesbitt. Countries attending FIP for the first time were allowed to bring several players to encourage the relation between delegates and FIP members That's how we had the pleasure to meet our good friend Peter Younghanns with 3 Aussie characters The Crown Prince of Pahang played winning the Cup , with the Scottish James Manclark and Glen Holden From California we moved to Palm Beach to play the second Ambassadors Cup and Council meeting organized by George Haas and Allan Scherer John Kilmartin organized and extraordinary Ambassadors Cup in Australia playing farmers polo in different areas of the interior of the country in dusty but great and fun polo. We had the pleasure to spend some time with the historical personality and 10 goals Sinclair Hill Australians opened their houses and their harts that conquered us all
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