Hua Hin prepares for annual Elephant Polo Tournament
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 1:20 PM
The event has grown to become one of the biggest charitable events in Thailand
The highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament is celebrating its 11th anniversary in the royal seaside town of Hua Hin from September 12th to September 16th.
The tournament this year will see the New Zealand All Black’s Robin Brooke, Olo Brown and Adrian Cashmore go head to head with European royals Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein and his wife Princess Anna. Miss Tiffany Thailand will also be playing in the tournament for the first time adding a hint of fun and a lot of colour!
The event has something for everyone including a spectacular opening parade through the main streets of Hua Hin with Thailand’s last ‘elephant spirit men’ (Kru Ba Yai), traditional dancers, a baby elephant camp and fun fair and a wide range of food and beverage outlets to tantalise the taste buds.
International and local celebrities, including US actress Isabelle Fuhrman, Former Thai PM Aphisit Vejjajiva and supermodel Cindy Bishop, have also donated their artistic talents by painting a piece of “The Big Picture” – an elephant-themed painting which will be on display throughout the event before being auctioned off for charity at the final gala dinner.
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. It has raised almost US$500,000 for projects that better the lives of Thailand’s elephant population including: Mahout accommodation at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC) and a mobile centrifuge for the TECC’s elephant mobile veterinary clinic.
The 11th King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held at Hua Hin's Suriyothai Army Base approximately 20 minutes from Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa.
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