From the 1st to 13th of August 2023, the fields of the Polo Club Saint-Tropez will welcome the AlUla Challenge Cup, a new tournament that will be part of the official season of the prestigious polo club located on the French Riviera.
The new tournament is part of the partnership between the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU) and the Polo Club Saint-Tropez-Haras de Gassin to celebrate the sport of Kings with the ancient Saudi Arabian city of AlUla as the winter destination and the French Riviera Saint-Tropez as the summer venue. RCU has announced the dates for the next edition of its Desert Polo tournament as January 15-20, 2024.
In the AlUla Challenge Cup taking place at the Polo Club Saint-Tropez, 10 teams will compete to win this 10 goal tournament.
Ziad Alsuhaibani, Head RCU Sports Executive Programme in AlUla, expressed his enthusiasm about this new tournament, saying, “At the heart of AlUla and indeed, Saudi Arabian culture, is an indomitable spirit of equestrianism, a thread that beautifully interlaces our rich heritage with the future we are shaping. Our commitment to equestrian sports is an expression of this deep-seated passion and a nod to our roots.
The AlUla Challenge Cup, in this context, provides us with a platform to share our story with the world, enhancing the visibility of AlUla as a unique destination with a narrative embedded in equestrian traditions. In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and AlUla strategy, we are committed to contributing to the Saudi economic diversification, with a strong focus on the growth of the tourism sector in AlUla.”
The tournament will include numerous social events, such as the exclusive Patrons’ Dinner and closing event on Sunday, August 13th.
The Polo Club Saint-Tropez season promises to be an unparalleled celebration of horsemanship, sportsmanship, and cultural exchange between two unique destinations.
Every day, the Polo Club Saint-Tropez will provide the finest daily images, videos, interviews and game photos for worldwide journalistic to use.
About AlUla
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km2, includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 52-hectare ancient city, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom and is comprised of 111 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.
Current research also suggests Hegra was the most southern outpost of the Roman Empire after the Roman’s conquered the Nabataeans in 106 CE.
In addition to Hegra, AlUla is also home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and considered to be one of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula, and Jabal Ikmah, an open air library of hundreds of inscriptions and writings in many different languages. Also AlUla Old Town, a labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes developed from at least the 12th century, and Hijaz Railway and Hegra Fort, key sites in the story and conquests of Lawrence of Arabia.
For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com
About Polo Club Saint-Tropez – Haras de Gassin :
In 2014, Alshair Fiyaz acquired the estate and planned to make the Polo Club Saint-Tropez – Haras de Gassin the most renowned sports center on the French Riviera. Constructions began in November 2014 and have made the Polo Resort & Country Club an iconic venue of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
Since July 2018, the new facilities are open all year round for the club members, offering the perfect combination between sports and well-being. Its polo season, from April to September, has been recognised as one of the best in Europe, especially during its high season in July & August. In total, more than 170 games, +700 chuckers, +50 teams, +110 players and +600 horses in 2022. The Polo Resort & Country Club is an impressive organisation where lifestyle management meets high-end sports operations.
Polo Resort & Country Club – Haras de Gassin 1999, Route du Bourrian
83580 Gassin
France
https://www.polo-st-tropez.com
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