Broome to Host International Beach Polo Festival

The Kimberley region of north west Australia is set to host Australia’s first international beach polo festival following ‘in principal’ approval of the concept by Broome Shire Council. The weeklong festival, to be held in Broome from 8 to 15 May 2011, is expected to attract polo players and tourists from around the world.

The cornerstone of the festival is Paspaley Beach Polo, Australia’s first and only beach polo event, which was launched at Broome’s iconic Cable Beach in May this year as a one-day, one match event. Next year, the event will be elevated to a genuine sporting league with teams competing in a round robin qualification competition to secure one of four places in the finals which will be held on the weekend of May 14 and 15. The festival’s beach action will conclude with an international test match between Australia and a visiting country.

Broome Shire President Graeme Campbell said this year’s beach polo was a great success for the town. “The organisers worked closely with the shire this year to ensure that all requirements were met, while producing an event the likes of which Broome has never seen before,” he said. “As well as attracting visitors to experience the Kimberley, the international beach polo festival will also provide an opportunity for the Broome community to be further introduced to the sport. We look forward to Broome hosting next year’s international event, subject to the organisers ticking all the boxes required by council.”

The organisers, Marilynne Paspaley AM, Owner of Pinctada Hotels & Resorts, and Janek Gazecki of Polo Enterprises Australia, are confident all council requirements will be achieved. Marilynne said the vision for the festival is to develop a week long program which embraces Broome’s unique tourist attractions and indigenous culture along with a range of entertainment and polo-themed events with the players.

“I commend Broome Shire Council’s vision in approving the international beach polo festival because it allows us to develop a one-day sporting and social event into a total tourism experience,” Marilynne said. “We believe the festival is an ideal opportunity to introduce both Australian and international tourists to Broome’s unique landscape, culture and heritage. With the support of the Broome and wider Kimberley communities we will commence work immediately to create a festival which has genuine international appeal, attracting tourists to Australia and the Kimberley. Broome Shire sets the bar very high and we enjoy working at that level.”

Janek Gazecki said the extended format is more appealing to players and confirmed he has received expressions of interest from both Australian and international players to participate. “This year’s inaugural beach polo event was a one-day format, which is problematic for players travelling to Broome. The weeklong event is a whole new ballgame because players can combine a holiday with the tournament. International polo players are always looking for an excuse to visit the most beautiful parts of the world to play polo and I’ve had a lot of interest from international patrons, polo associations and individual players keen to visit the Kimberley and play on Cable Beach. This year Cable Beach proved an ideal location to stage this unique sporting spectacle and next year our top polo players, headed by Australian captain Glen Gilmore, are keen to return to the action on the Kimberley sand. Now we have approval for the festival to proceed, teams and individual players will be invited to nominate and there will be a selection process to determine the teams that will compete in the round robin qualifying tournament,” he said

Cable Beach is one of just five exotic locations around the world to host beach polo, along with Miami in the USA, Poole in the UK, Dubai in the UAE and Goa in India.

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