Polo Games

Book excerpt: A veritable symbol of the art of living, polo has generated its own clans, codes, and destinations. Polo was first played in Persia, and then spread across the steppes of Central Asia to India. The British colonialists were quickly seduced by this sport of kings and king of sports. They exported the game to the Western world, all the way to the Argentine Pampas. Today, polo teams travel a worldwide circuit, from Windsor to St. Moritz, Dubai or Buenos Aires, to compete in contests that recall jousting matches of warriors. Cartier, jeweler to kings, princes, and maharajahs, is of course an enthusiast of this sport and sponsors some of the most spectacular tournaments in the world, combining elements of passion, audacity, and the chic and cosmopolitan art of living.