Click the pic to see a YouTube video of camel polo
by Justin Verrier
From the beginning
The exact origins of the game of polo are unclear, but it was first played in Persia some time between the sixth Century BC and the first Century AD.
In its early years, the game was used to train some of the top royal cavalry units.
Manipur
The British are credited with popularizing the sport and making the game mainstream, but it was in Manipur, India that athletes first played a similar game called "Sagol Kangjei" or "Pulu" in the Middle Ages.
Around the world
Despite boasting the only professional league that features 32 teams, polo is not as popular in the United States as in most of the 77 countries in which the sport is active.
The sport is no longer featured in the Olympics, but did enjoy a 39-year run there from 1900 to 1939. It was, however, played in the 2007 Southeast Asian games, known more commonly as SeaGames.
Lefties not welcomed
In 1975, left-handed players were ruled out for safety reasons. Today, polo must be played right handed, although there still are three lefties on the world circuit.
Polo is not just for horses
In India, Thailand and other Asian countries, players ride atop elephants and camels, while currently in northern Europe and even in the United States, players sometimes ride on bicycles on asphalt courts.
Following a half-time show at a Minnesota Vikings game, a league of four segway-driving polo clubs was created. They now play in San Francisco and other parts of California.
Other variants include canoe, golf cart, BMX, yak and water polo.
1 comment:
Actually S. F. Bay Area Segway Polo wasn't spurred by the group that played at a Viking's half time. While they did play before us we had never heard of the group before we started playing.
Post a Comment