Destination Guide
Chiang Rai
2008 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament
The event organiser Anantara Resorts announcced that the 2008 Thailand's highly popular King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament would take place from 31 March - 6 April in the northern-most region of the country popularly known as the Golden Triangle.
This annual event, ranked as the 6th largest event on theThai tourism calendar has, for the past five years, taken place in the royal saeside town of Hua Hin, situated 220km south of the Thai capital Bangkok. The tournament was introducted to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Vice-President, Chistopher Stafford and is a charitable event that raises money for the country's National Elephant Institute in Lampang , northern Thailand.
In just six years the King's Cup elephant Polo Tournament has gine from a small 2-day event with 6 teams into a week-long extravaganza, which in 2007 featured 12 teams encompassing 36 players from 15 countries. The Tourism Authority of Thailand supports the King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament and spector entrance is free of change. The 2008 event will take place at the Anatara Resort Golden Triangle, driving less than an hour from Chaing Rai Internation Airport.
To date the tournament has raised over US$140,000 for the National Elephant Insitute, which provides medical care, sustenance, employment, welfare and mahout training to Thailand's elephant population. It is estimated that Thailand has around 2500 domesticated elephants and 1500 wild elephants. This is down from an elephant population of around 50,000 in 1950 and 100,000 in 1900.
The modern game of elephant polo was founded in Nepal in 1982 by Englishman Jim Edwords, ownedr of Tiger Tops Lodge in Nepal and James Manclark, a former British Olmpic bobsleigh competitor. The King's Cup elephant Polo Tournament is part of the World Elephant Polo Association World Series. The World Championships take place in Chitwan National Park, Nepal every Deceember and the Ceylon Elephant Polo tournament takes place each February in Sri Lanka's fort town of Galle.
2008 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Official Program
31st March 2008 – 6th April 2008
At Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai
NOTE: PRACTISE DAYS 29TH, 30TH MARCH
Saturday, March 29thPRACTISE DAY (CHIANG SAEN CITY WALLS)
07:00 am : TAT Duathlon Asian Championship in Chiang Saen
(ask about the “Iron Man Polo” clause to see how this might help you bring your handicap down).
12:00 pm : Practise begins.
04:00 pm : Practise ends.
Sunday, March 30th PRACTISE DAY (CHIANG SAEN CITY WALLS)
06:00 am : TAT Triathlon Asian Cup in Chiang Saen
(ask about the “Iron Man Polo” clause to see how this might help you bring your handicap down).
08:00 am : Practice begins
12:15 am : Practice ends
Monday, March 31st
07:00 am : Practice (Anantara pitch)
10:59 am : Elephant Blessing Ceremony
12:00 pm : All elephants’ Veterinary Check by T.E.C.C. Mobile Elephant Clinic
03:00 pm : Opening Parade with all elephants
05:00 pm : Opening Match - Dream Team Match
06:00 pm : Welcome Cocktail Party at the HILLTOP – Anantara Golden Triangle
07:00 pm : Dinner at leisure – Anantara Golden Triangle
Tuesday, April 1st
09:00 am : Chivas Regal Scotland VS Anantara Visitors’ Team
10:00 am : TAT Amazing Thailand VS Dubai World Tickle & the Ivories
11:00 am : Audemars Piguet VS Four Seasons Tented Camp
12:00 pm : Lunch at the pitch
13:30 pm : Team Anantara Resorts VS Raimon Land Thailand
14.30 pm : PricewaterhouseCoopers WEPA Legends VS IBM Federacion Madrilena de Polo
15.30 pm : The London Nellies Classic Ladies VS Mercedes Benz Thailand
06:00 pm : Pre-Dinner Cocktail – The Rice Paddy
07:00 pm : Dinner on the polo pitch – Anantara Golden Triangle
Theme: French Explorer
Wednesday, April 2nd
09:00 am : IBM Federacion Madrilena de Polo VS TAT Amazing Thailand
10:00 am : Four Seasons Tented Camp VS The London Nellies Classic Ladies
11:00 am : Anantara Visitors’ Team VS Team Anantara Resorts
12:00 pm : Lunch at the pitch
13:30 pm : Audemars Piguet VS Mercedes Benz Thailand
14.30 pm : Chivas Regal Scotland VS Raimon Land Thailand
15.30 pm : PricewaterhouseCoopers WEPA Legends VS Dubai World Tickle & the Ivories
06:00 pm : Bai Sri ceremony at the spirit houses
07:00 pm : Dinner around pool deck – Anantara Golden Triangle
Theme: Anantara Night
Thursday, April 3rd
09:00 am : Audemars Piguet VS The London Nellies Classic Ladies
10:00 am : Chivas Regal Scotland VS Team Anantara Resorts
11:00 am : PricewaterhouseCoopers WEPA Legends VS TAT Amazing Thailand
12:00 pm : Lunch at the pitch
13:30 pm : IBM Federacion Madrilena de Polo VS Dubai World Tickle & the Ivories
14.30 pm : Four Seasons Tented Camp VS Mercedes Benz Thailand
15.30 pm : Anantara Visitors’ Team VS Raimon Land
06:00 pm : Pre-Dinner Cocktail at Elephant Bar – Anantara Golden Triangle
07:00 pm : BBQ at the Elephant camp – Anantara Golden Triangle
Theme : National Dress (players’ night)
Friday, April 4th
09:00 am : Climb out of the Wooden Spoon Game 1
10:00 am : Climb out of the Wooden Spoon Game 2
11:00 am : Playing to finish in the top half! Game 1
12:00 pm : Lunch at the pitch
13:30 pm : Playing to finish in the top half! Game 2
14.30 pm : Semi final 1
15.30 pm : Semi final 2
06:00 pm : Pre-Dinner Cocktail at Hall of Opium
07:00 pm : Dinner at leisure – Anantara Golden Triangle
Saturday, April 5th
09:00 am : Wooden spoon play-off
10:00 am : 9th & 10th Place play-off
11:00 am : 7th & 8th Place play-off
12:00 pm : Lunch at the pitch
13:30 pm : 5th & 6th Place play-off
14.30 pm : 3rd & 4th Place play-off
04:00 pm : Final King’s Cup Elephant Polo 2008
05:30 pm : Prize Giving Ceremony
06:30 pm : Pre-Dinner Cocktail at Elephant Bar – Anantara Golden Triangle
07:30 pm : Gala Dinner at Wat Pa Sak
Theme : Thai Lanna Night
Sunday, April 6th
10.00 am : Brunch at the pitch Sponsored by Raimon Land
10:30 am : Mahouts Championship
11:30 am : Visitors Match
13.00 pm : International Press Match
14.00 pm : International Government Match
28 Mar 2008 - 30 Mar 2008
Take in the triathlon races on the longest river in Southeast Asia. Partake in the organized trip “G...
Mekong River International Multi-sport Championship
Date : 28-30 March 2008
Venue : Chiang Rai
Take in the triathlon races on the longest river in Southeast Asia. Partake in the organized trip “Gateway to Indochina”. Enjoy the food festival and beautiful cultural shows.
Contact : TAT Northern Office : Region 2
Tel : 0 5371 7433, 0 5374 4674-5
Website : www.thaitriathlon.org
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