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Rovinj, Croatia, to host first ever Beach Polo Tournament in the region

4th April 2016 Print
Beach Polo

Rovinj, situated in the region of Istria on the northern coast of Croatia, will this year host the first ever Beach Polo Tournament to be played in the region, from 12th to 15th May 2016.

Located on the beautiful Croatian coastline, Rovinj will provide a stunning Mediterranean backdrop for the royal sporting event, which is the first and only polo event held in this part of the world since the polo events on the Brijuni islands in the 1920’s and 30’s.

After hosting world-class regattas and the Red Bull Air Race in 2014 and 2015, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors, Rovinj and event partners hotel group Maistra, will once again open the upcoming tourist season with a new sporting event expected to attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.

A 70x40 metre arena built especially for the event, in which polo matches will be played in tournament format on the Saturday and Sunday, will be set up along the Porton Biondi beach, offering spectacular views of the old town. Four international polo teams will participate in the Tournament with players from India, Argentina, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Croatia, along with around 50 Argentinian horses.

Regarded as one of the most picturesque towns in the Mediterranean, thanks to its picturesque cluster of Venetian houses, cobbled streets and scenic fishing harbour, Rovinj will provide visitors with an ideal setting to enjoy the Tournament. As well as beautiful scenery, the area is also a great foodie destination, with the region of Istria, known as Croatia’s gourmet food region, renowned for its truffles, oysters, olive oil and fine wines.

Event partners Maistra will be hosting a number of exclusive social events at their five star hotels Hotel Monte Mulini and Hotel Lone during the four days, which are both nestled in the hillside of the Golden Cape, a lush stretch of coastline bathed by the Lone Bay. A grand Polo Parade will also take place on the Saturday (14th May) finishing by the newly refurbished Hotel Adriatic in the very centre of Rovinj.

The Beach Polo Tournament was played for the first time in Dubai in 2004. Only a year later, it took over the beaches of Miami, and continued to grow by being played in Belgium, England, Wales, Chile, Ireland, Uruguay and other countries.

Unlike traditional polo, in which two teams compete, each consisting of four players and their horses, a Beach Polo team includes only three players with horses. The game usually involves more manoeuvering and shorter passes at lower speeds due to the more constrained space inside the arena. The aim of the match is to score goals by sending a small air-filled leather ball between the goal posts of the opposing team using a long-handled mallet. The duration of one match is 30 minutes. It is divided into four periods called chukkas, each five minutes long. The Tournament in Rovinj will be played according to the Hurlingham rules.

The four day event is supported by the renowned Swiss watchmaker TagHeuer, the famous Argentinian brand La Martina and Heineken.

For more information, visit croatiapolo.com

Where to stay in Rovinj:
Hotel Lone - an award winning design hotel located a ten minute walk from Rovinj’s old town, Hotel Lone offers a wealth of five-star facilities, including 236 rooms and 12 suites, 2 restaurants, several bars, a design shop, a Wellness & Spa centre and an outdoor pool area. lonehotel.com/en

Hotel Monte Mulini - a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the five-star Hotel Monte Mulini comprises 133 sea-facing rooms and suites, a Mediterranean-inspired à la carte restaurant, one of Croatia’s top fine dining restaurants – the Wine Vault, a luxury spa spread over three floors – Art Wellness Spa, and an infinity pool. montemulinihotel.com

For more information on bookings visit maistra.com

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Beach Polo