2014 King's Cup Elephant Polo Raises 4.5 Million Baht for Elephant Conservation

[HD video below] After four days of fun festivities, the 13th annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament came to a close on Sunday.

Taking place in Samut Prakan on the outskirts of Bangkok for the very first time, 16 teams with players from around the world showcased their elephant polo talents with the tournament resulting in new King’s Cup champions.

Sunday’s final, which was presided over by the King of Thailand’s royal representative, Privy Councilor Real Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj, saw King Power Duty Free and Audemars Piguet go head to head in a penalty shoot out, with a ‘sudden death’ play-off finally clinching the win for King Power.

The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and has grown to become one of the biggest charitable events in Thailand, raising funds for projects that better the lives of Thailand’s elephant population.

Friday night’s gala dinner at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa hosted a gathering of top dignitaries, players, and well known celebrities, with the night’s auction raising 4.5 million Thai Baht, taking the total raised over the years to an impressive US$900,000 (THB 28.7 million).

With free admission, the event has something for everyone, kicking off with an opening parade and ceremony overseen by Thailand’s last ‘elephant spirit men’ (Kru Ba Yai), traditional dancers, plus the daily trunk-to-trunk action on the pitch.

Day two saw the tournament host two thousand children from schools all over Bangkok. Known as Chang Noi Day (Little Elephant Day), the children were invited to get up close with the elephants and learn more about their national animal. A range of educational walks, games and activities all teaching the benefits of elephant conservation and well being were put on by the organisers.

Saturday was Ladies Day. Ladies from all walks of life dressed to impress with the best dressed lady winning a week’s holiday at Niyama in the Maldives. Besides the elephant polo, other entertainment included Thai bands and a specially choreographed show by Tiffany Show Pattaya, one of Thailand’s most famous transgender cabarets.

The tournament is growing year on year and attracted people from the USA and Canada, New Zealand, India, all over Europe, the UAE, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and many local visitors from Bangkok and around Thailand.

Projects to benefit from the 2014 tournament are currently being finalised and will include an extension of the ongoing Thai Elephant Therapy Project being undertaken since 2009 in conjunction with Chiang Mai University Department of Occupational Therapy, with future clinics to include children with Down syndrome and other conditions.

Final Leaderboard for 2014 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament:

1. King Power Duty Free
2. Audemars Piguet
3. & 4. PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand All Blacks / The Peninsula
5. Rueang Chang
6. Sara Story Design
7. Anantara Arabian Knights
8. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
9. & 10 Mekhong tied with Casillero Del Diablo
11. & 12. Hendrick’s Gin tied with Bangkok Bank
13. Johnny Walker Blue Label
14. Louis Roederer Hong Kong
15. Citibank
16. Mercedes Benz

King's Cup Elephant Polo 2014 and 2015 - Interview with Tim Boda

Exclusive HD video interview with Tim Boda, Director of Culinary Excellence and Events at Minor Hotel Group in Thailand, about the 2014 and 2015 King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament.

In this interview, which was filmed on the morning of 1 September 2014, you will learn why Minor Hotel Group moved the event from Hua Hin to the outskirts of Bangkok, what impact that move had on attendance numbers, how the event went, how much was raised for elephant preservation at the Black Tie Gala Dinner and Charity Auction on Friday night and what plans the group has for 2015.

See more: HD Videos and more: Pictures from 2014 King's Cup Elephant Polo.