Hobby horses of the rich and famous plans are afoot

Olver has fought in wars but now his attention is mostly on the super-rich in China who love to show their social status at polo games.[Photo / China Daily]

Ed Olver has commanded troops in war zones and ridden ceremonial horses down The Mall in London. Now he has grand plans for China. The former army and Household Cavalry officer is co-founder of British Polo Day, which has an annual competition at a club outside Beijing near the Great Wall. He is now contemplating staging polo events elsewhere in China, most likely mini-versions that can be staged in mobile arenas.

Olver, who was once also a day trader, is nothing if not ambitious. British Polo Day started with a global remit, the idea being to hold invitation-only polo events in Argentina, China, India, the Middle East and Singapore and luring rich spectators.

Sponsors, particularly British heritage brands, loved the idea, a chance for them to peddle their wares to the rich. The game, popular among the mega-rich, aristocracy and royalty, is usually spread over an afternoon, allowing ample time for spectators to network over drinks and lunch.

The third British Polo Day in China was held on October 19 at the Sunny Times Polo Club, the one outside Beijing near the Great Wall. The club owner, Xia Yang, is an accomplished player and a participant in the event.

"Britain is the place that founded modern polo and China is the place where it originated," says Xia, who has laid a new pitch for this year's event. "British Polo Day provides good opportunities for people from overseas to come together with China. It is an exciting sporting event and provides business opportunities."

At the event, teams made up of players from Argentina, China, England and New Zealand battle it out on the field, while spectators nibble sandwiches, sip Champagne and hobnob with other movers and shakers.

"Among the elite, the position that polo has means that money is keen to come into it, says Olver, 32. "It's a big-face thing. If you have a polo team it is about status - and Chinese society is so about status that I think the future of polo is really, really bright.

"There is also an understanding that this is a Chinese sport. There is great imagery from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) of polo being played. That is a positive link and generates national pride.

"If you look at all the different brands, the horse is often involved in, it is such a symbolic part of elitism, because to own a horse in China, with the scarcity of space, you have to be seriously wealthy."

The event certainly has no trouble luring high-end sponsors such as Land Rover.

"We are proud to support polo in China and excited to be advocating a British sport here," says Bob Grace, president of Jaguar Land Rover China. "Polo is a game traditionally played in Britain by a successful, and sometimes royal, crowd and we wanted to reinforce our brand's British lineage and regal connection.

"It is also a sport that you often associate with luxury."