High-Calibre HUBLOT Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2012
Polo at its best once again against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful scenery in the Alps … From 16 to 19 August in Gstaad, the most important polo tournament on Swiss soil, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup, will take place. Four teams, reinforced by high-calibre professionals from Argentina, will fight for the prestigious trophy. On Friday, no match is played while the traditional team parade is held through Gstaad. The social highlight of the tournament is the gala night in the VIP tent on Saturday evening.
The Polo Gold Cup in Gstaad is taking place for the 17th time and has become a major international event, drawing attention even in polo stronghold Argentina. The players at this year’s tournament are again of the highest calibre this year. Six leading Argentinian players with handicap 7 (Franckie Menendez, Pablo Jauretche) and handicap of 6 (Marcelo Pascual, Ignacio Tillous, Bautista Urbina) will start in the Bernese Oberland – the highest ranked team has a total handicap of 14.
“The fact that top players from Argentina will be coming to Gstaad this year shows the level of international recognition our tournament has achieved,” says Polo Gstaad President Pierre Genecand.
The tournament, which in 2011 had to be changed at the last minute due to the surprise death of Swiss captain Philipp Maeder, will again be played this year using the traditional formula. Two qualifying matches will be played on Thursday, 16 August, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday, 18 August. On Sunday the 19th, the two losing teams from Saturday’s matches will play for third and fourth place honours, while the two winners of the semi-finals will battle it out for the championship. No match is traditionally played on the Friday of the tournament weekend. The many guests expected to attend the tournament will again be joined by the local residents for much anticipated traditional team parade through the centre of Gstaad. In addition to the four teams and the drum corps, a special treat will be music provided by the Bern cavalry band.
Gala Night as a social highlight
A total of 500 special guests from around the world have been invited to the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2012, which, as always, will be held on the grounds of the private airfield in Saanen. The social highlight of the tournament is Polo Night is on Saturday evening. This year it will be celebrated in the VIP tent, accompanied by blues and jazz pianist Silvan Zingg. After midnight, the famous “GreenGo” Club will move from the Gstaad Palace Hotel to the VIP tent – to let the party continue through the night.
Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad is not only popular with the players and the guests, but also with sponsors is shown by the fact that the same sponsors as last year have returned. In addition to title sponsor luxury watch brand HUBLOT, other main sponsors are the prestigious Geneva private bank Banque Baring Brothers Sturdza, the high-end fashion house Stardesign, and the five-star Hotel Gstaad Palace, which is celebrating its centenary in 2013.
