America's Polo Cup
Encyclopedia
The America's Polo Cup was a polo
event held annually in the United States of America from 2007 to 2010, but was declared banrkupt on September 13, 2010. The event was organized by Tareq
and Michaele Salahi, with varying degrees of support from sponsors. Because the match was unsanctioned by the Federation of International Polo
, it was largely considered a spectator event. The event attracted controversy because financial issues surrounding the event, including allegations of, nonpayment of vendors, charity funding issues, and sponsors' names and marks being used without their consent.
in Leesburg
, Virginia.
.
in Washington, D.C., with teams announced as United States and India. The advertised ticket price for the event was $95 per person. The event had an attendance of about 250 people, with food from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Reports of the event stated that the players who represented India were actually of Pakistan
i origin and were from Florida. A spokesman for the Embassy of India stated that neither the Embassy nor the government of India
had any association with the event.
The event's website reportedly identified an Indian company, Kingfisher Beer
, as a sponsor. However, Kingfishers' chief executive denied that the company had sponsored the event. Yashpal Singh, the president and chief executive of Mendocino Brewing Company
, Kingfisher's parent company, reportedly stated, "We are not sponsoring this event and have informed the people managing this event of that, .... We have sent legal notices to this effect, and he keeps on advertising us as a sponsor. I don't know what world he's living in."
On September 13, 2010, the business "America's Polo Cup Inc." filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
terminated its sponsorship after a charity created by the Salahis was put under investigation by the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs. The organization, Journey for the Cure, solicited donations of cash or auction items as part of their mission to support science grants and other funding for cures of multiple sclerosis
and cancer but was never incorporated as a 501(c). In 2010, the Indian Embassy, Land Rover, Ritz Carlton, and the St. Regis Hotels terminated their sponsorship after the U.S. State Dinner Security Breach.
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
event held annually in the United States of America from 2007 to 2010, but was declared banrkupt on September 13, 2010. The event was organized by Tareq
Tareq Salahi
Tareq Dirgham Salahi is a former American vintner and former public official. He and his wife, Michaele, gained national attention in November 2009 by allegedly crashing a White House state dinner in honor of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh...
and Michaele Salahi, with varying degrees of support from sponsors. Because the match was unsanctioned by the Federation of International Polo
Federation of International Polo
Federation of International Polo was founded in 1983 with headquarters in Beverly Hills, USA, and currently represents the national polo associations of more than 80 countries. It was the brain child of Marcos Uranga, then President of the Argentine Polo Association. The first World Polo...
, it was largely considered a spectator event. The event attracted controversy because financial issues surrounding the event, including allegations of, nonpayment of vendors, charity funding issues, and sponsors' names and marks being used without their consent.
2007
On May 12, the United Kingdom defeated America 7-3 at Morven ParkMorven Park
Morven Park is an estate in Leesburg, Virginia, USA, that includes the Westmoreland Davis Mansion and the Winmill Carriage Museum. The gardens are open to the public at no charge. The park is also home to the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, with displays of art, artifacts and memorabilia about the...
in Leesburg
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
, Virginia.
2009
On May 9 America defeated Australia 4-2 at the Capitol Polo Club in Poolesville, MarylandPoolesville, Maryland
Poolesville is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland United States with a population of approximately 5000 people. It is surrounded by the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, and is considered a distant bedroom community for commuters to Washington, DC.The name of the town comes from the...
.
2010
The 2010 america's Polo Cup match took place on June 12 on the National MallNational Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
in Washington, D.C., with teams announced as United States and India. The advertised ticket price for the event was $95 per person. The event had an attendance of about 250 people, with food from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Reports of the event stated that the players who represented India were actually of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i origin and were from Florida. A spokesman for the Embassy of India stated that neither the Embassy nor the government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
had any association with the event.
The event's website reportedly identified an Indian company, Kingfisher Beer
Kingfisher (beer)
Kingfisher beer is an Indian beer brewed by United Breweries Group. The brand was launched in 1978. With a market share of over 36%, it is India's largest selling beer, with 1 out of every 3 bottles of beer sold in India being a Kingfisher brand...
, as a sponsor. However, Kingfishers' chief executive denied that the company had sponsored the event. Yashpal Singh, the president and chief executive of Mendocino Brewing Company
Mendocino Brewing Company
Mendocino Brewing Company , founded in 1983 as the Hopland Brewery in Hopland, California, is a brewery currently located in Ukiah, Mendocino County, California...
, Kingfisher's parent company, reportedly stated, "We are not sponsoring this event and have informed the people managing this event of that, .... We have sent legal notices to this effect, and he keeps on advertising us as a sponsor. I don't know what world he's living in."
On September 13, 2010, the business "America's Polo Cup Inc." filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Controversy
Allegations of fraud over the past few years has caused a number of organizations to withdraw sponsorship. In 2009, Land RoverLand Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
terminated its sponsorship after a charity created by the Salahis was put under investigation by the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs. The organization, Journey for the Cure, solicited donations of cash or auction items as part of their mission to support science grants and other funding for cures of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
and cancer but was never incorporated as a 501(c). In 2010, the Indian Embassy, Land Rover, Ritz Carlton, and the St. Regis Hotels terminated their sponsorship after the U.S. State Dinner Security Breach.