SRI LANKAN ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT COMING UP IN FEBRUARY,2007

[Guest guest]

People to contact:

Libby Southwell Geoffrey Dobbs

libbysouthwell geoffreydobbs

+94 779 099 446 +94 777 907

860

 

6th ANNUAL ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT, GALLE, SRI LANKA

 

* *From the 14th – 17th February 2007, at least eight international teams

will be fighting it out at the southern seaside town of Galle, Sri Lanka to

participate in the 6th Annual International Elephant Tournament. This

interesting and incredibly exciting game will be played by the magnificent

historical ramparts of the World Heritage Fort of Galle, Sri Lanka.

 

The tournament is hosted by CEPA (Ceylon Elephant Polo Association).

CEPA was originated by Geoffrey Dobbs and it was Geoffrey that bought

Elephant Polo to Sri Lanka to develop up-market tourism in the country and

bring attention to the plight of the Asian elephant. Geoffrey is a convivial

boutique hotelier who has also pioneered the revival of luxury tourism in

this Island oasis of serendipity. With a natural passion for sport, and a

keen interest in raising the profile of Sri Lanka, Geoffrey Dobbs is also a

strong campaigner for elephant conservation.

 

The popularity and success of this tournament reflects the growing interest

in Sri Lanka as a leading tourist destination, with its South coast rapidly

developing as the alternative Riviera of choice to those long established in

the Mediterranean. Whether you are a player or a spectator the weeks events

provide those with a unique and memorable experience in Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE GAME

The first game of elephant polo originated 26 years ago and was founded by

an Englishman and a Scotsman, James Manclark, a property developer and

international sportsman including a keen horse polo player. The Englishman,

Jim Edwards, who is the owner of the famous Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in Nepal

which had domestic elephants for safari purposes. The Scot was a polo

player. They decided to have a go at the game using an elephant and elephant

polo was born.

 

Elephant polo was first played in India around the turn of the 20th century,

by members of the Harem of Indian Rajas (to fill in their spare times). The

World Elephant Polo Association in Nepal (WEPA) was the first and paramount

organization in modern times to host the sport. The first games were played

with a soccer ball, but after finding that the elephants like to smash the

balls, the soccer ball was replaced with a standard polo ball. The sticks

are made of bamboo and have a standard polo mallet on the end. The length of

the stick depends on the size of the elephant - anywhere from 5 to 12 feet.

 

Each elephant is accompanied by a mahout who sits on the elephant's neck and

guides the elephant with the use of his legs, whilst the player sits on a

rough hewn saddle roped around the girth of the elephant.

 

The elephants are brought from all over Sri Lanka and are specifically

trained for the game and then graded based on their ball skill, speed and

size. Three elephants and three players are used per team, for each game,

which consists of two seven minute " chukkas " of playing time,

with an interval of 15 minutes in between. To ensure fair play the

elephants, mahouts and ends are changed at half time. Elephant Polo is all

about hitting the ball with a long stick from the top of an elephant into

the goal. The Mahout guides the elephant with the use of his legs.

The primary difference between horse and elephant polo, besides the

substitution of an elephant for a horse, is that the elephants are " driven "

by their trainers, called " mahouts. " The mahouts have generally worked with

the elephant for many years and the elephants respond quickly to the mahouts

signals and commands. The mahout communicates with the elephant with verbal

commands and by applying pressure to the back of the elephant's ears with

their feet. The player's responsibility is to let the mahout know where to

go, how fast, when to stop, etc. Most of the mahouts and all of the

elephants only understand Sinhala, so the communication is difficult at

times.

 

PARTICIPATING TEAMS - 2007

*PARTICIPATING TEAMS – 2007*

CEPA is in the process of confirming team participation for 2007. However

there will be atleast 8 international teams participating from countries

such as Australia, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Nepal, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain,

UK, India and Thailand.

Each team will play up to two games per day over a 3 to 4 day tournament

period.

 

PROGRAM OF EVENTS

 

*Monday, 12th February & Tuesday, 13th February*

 

12.30am – 4.30pm POLO PRACTICE FOR TEAMS

 

*Wednesday, 14th February*

 

10.30am – 4.30pm POLO PRACTICE FOR TEAMS + ELEPHANT GRADING

 

7.30pm – 9.30pm WECLOME COCKTAIL PARTY,

 

9.30pm WELCOME DINNER

 

*Thursday, 15th February*

 

10.30am - 12.30pm POLO MATCHES

 

LUNCH SERVED ON THE PITCH FROM 12.30PM

 

1.30pm – 2.30pm POLO MATCHES

 

7.30pm PLAYERS DINNER, THE DUTCH HOUSE - GALLE

 

*Friday, 16th February*

 

11.30am - 12.30pm POLO MATCHES

 

LUNCH SERVED ON THE PITCH FROM 12.30PM

 

1.30pm – 3.30pm POLO MATCHES

 

7.30pm BEACH PARTY

 

*Saturday, 17th February*

 

10.30am - 12.30pm POLO FINALS

 

LUNCH SERVED ON THE PITCH FROM 12.30PM

 

1.30pm – 2.30pm PRESENTATION + PRIZE GIVING

 

7.30pm GALA BALL, TAPROBANE ISLAND - WELIGAMA

 

1.

 

*CEPA SUPPORTS ELEPHANT CONSERVATION*

 

Ever since 1900, the plight of the Sri Lankan elephant (maximus maximus) has

been desperate. Civil war, poaching and the rapid destruction of natural

habitat have resulted in a catastrophic reduction in the elephant population

from over 200,000 to just 4,000 today. The Sri Lankan elephant is in danger

of extinction. Each year CEPA raises funds for Sri Lankan Elephant.

 

Promoting the welfare of the Sri Lankan elephant will continue to be a key

priority for the World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) and its affiliate

members both in Thailand (TEPA) and Sri Lanka (CEPA).

 

*ABOUT GALLE*

 

Galle and the historic Fort of Galle are located approx. 3 hours south of

Colombo on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Galle is the perfect place from

which to experience the best of Sri Lanka's beaches, temples, tea

plantations, wildlife, tropical rainforests and the local chaotic markets

and villages of the Southern Province.

 

No where in Sri Lanka, than in Galle is there such an abundance of beautiful

accommodation, shopping and fine dining.

 

For more information on the 2007 Elephant Polo Tournament contact:

 

Libby Southwell Geoffrey Dobbs

 

libbysouthwell geoffreydobbs

+94 779 099 446 +94 777 907

860

 

CEPA - 2007 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

 

Sponsoring Elephant Polo provides the perfect opportunity for you or your

organization to:

 

- Target a varied and responsive audience (both international and

national)

- Generate new business.

- Be associated with a high profile and popular event

- Play an integral role in assisting promoting Sri Lanka as a key

tourist destination

- Provide unique corporate and customer hospitality

- Place product (use your product in a meaningful way amongst a

captive audience)

- Gain additional media coverage and brand recognition by being

associated with such a unique event.

 

*Sponsorship levels are:*

 

*GOLD (US$10,000)*

 

- Prominent display of banners and advertising material throughout the

Polo Ground

- Naming rights to one of the tournament teams

- Option of having sole promotional / advertising rights to one

tournament social event.

- Prominent use of Logo on all tournament promotional material and

tournament programs

- Access to all media who attend the tournament (both international

and local)

- Inclusion in all press releases and media material

- Complementary tickets to all tournament social events (Up to 4

company representatives)

- Corporate Hospitality

 

*SILVER – (US$5,000)*

 

- Prominent display of banners and advertising material throughout the

Polo Ground

- Use of Logo on all tournament promotional material and tournament

programs

- Access to all media invited to the tournament (both international

and local)

- Complementary tickets to all tournament social events (Up to 2

company representatives)

 

*BRONZE – (Less than US$5,000)*

 

- Display of banners and advertising material in a designated area of

the Polo Ground

- Use of Logo on the main tournament program

- Complementary tickets to the grand Mahout Ball (Up to 2 company

representatives)

 

To be a sponsor of the 2007 CEPA tournament contact:

 

Libby Southwell Geoffrey Dobbs

libbysouthwell geoffreydobbs

+94 779 099 446 +94 777 907

860

 

 

 

http://www.elephantpolo.com/cepa/sponsorship_opportunity.html