FIP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ZONE PLAYOFFS

For the FIP World Championship VII, the federation's most ambitious and important international event, there will be 35 participating countries in the zone playoff system to determine the eight teams that will play in the finals in Chantilly, France, September 9-19, 2004.

Europe (Zone C) held the first playoff tournament at the RLS Polo Club in England during September 2003. The countries that participated were Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, and England. England won the tournament assuring them a spot in the finals next year in Chantilly, France.

The next playoff tournament will be Asia, Africa, Oceana (Zone D) on December 6-14, 2003 at the Lahore Polo Club in Pakistan. The countries participating will be India, Iran, Australia, Singapore, and Pakistan.

The South American (Zone B) playoffs will take place in Las Mercedes Polo Club in Chile on February 15-22, 2004. The countries participating will be Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and the winner of a sub-zone tournament between Ecuardo, Paraguay, and Venezuela.

The last zone playoff tournament will be North and Central America (Zone A) Juarez Polo Club in Mexico on May 13-23, 2004. The countries participating will be Canada, USA, Mexico, and the winner of a sub-zone tournament between Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.

Please visit the FIP website at www.fippolo.com for updates on the plans for the World Cup and the Zone Playoffs.

FIP, currently with headquarters in Beverly Hills, CA, was founded in 1983 and currently represents the national polo associations of more than 80 countries. In addition to organizing international tournaments, FIP also develops international tournaments for children, conducts umpiring and coaching seminars and encourages participation in the sport of polo at all levels and ages.