Comporta

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The new edition of POLO+10 WORLD is online!

29. May 2020

Available for download on our website for mobile or desktop use or print by subscription at hello@poloplus10.com

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Oliver Winter, President | German Polo Association DPV
© Bernhard Willroth

Dear friends of POLO+10, dear Polo friends,

the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences influence our everyday life during these weeks. The first concern of course is for our families and friends. Protecting their health and limiting the spread of the virus still is our greatest common obligation.

We are all asked to adapt to the current circumstances, follow the restrictions in our sport and the advice for personal distancing where necessary.

And we can see that in following official advice we are successfully fighting Covid-19. As a result in more and more countries the strict measures will be eased in the upcoming weeks, a return to limited training slowly is possible. Polo clubs and stables affected from the restrictions have mastered the special challenges very well. Despite the sometimes limiting possibilities, the care for the horses was and is always upheld. And fortunately the good and close cooperation with the authorities has made it possible to quickly implement individual training plans.

Our Polo clubs and all their staff have made the best of the situation so far, for which I thank them on behalf of all Polo players!

But despite these positive experiences, the Corona virus has also affected our sport noticeably. Especially those of us who live from and with Polo, the coaches, referees, grooms, but also professional players and tournament organizers, have been hit economically by the effects of the pandemic.

We see that individual training in many clubs is possible again, that many of us can continue their work with the horses. Many clubs are currently preparing for a reduced season, so unfortunately we will not see every tournament originally scheduled for this year. Main events such as the European Polo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and various big national tournaments are already postponed to 2021. And the training of young people will probably only be possible to a very limited extent in this 2020 season.

Still we should be optimistic for the second half of this year. As soon as possible we will see small tournaments being considered in many places and later in the year we all hope for further liftings of the sanctions and maybe some High Goal events. Polo is a mesmerizing and dynamic team sport. It is our passion to live it and to share it with our family, friends and the many fans and spectators.

We are experiencing strong solidarity in the Polo family and I am very happy to see the support and help offered everywhere. I hope you enjoy this edition of POLO+10 and that we will meet again soon at a Polo ground. Please stay healthy and take care!

Let‘s enjoy Polo!

Oliver Winter, President | German Polo Association DPV

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Lifestyle, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News, Real Estate

The Comporta Polo Club – where Alégria means Joy

27. March 2020

by Stefanie Stüting

The Comporta Polo Club – positioning Portugal as an international Polo Hub. The Portuguese word Alegría means happiness. With Canadian top player Fred Mannix (hdc +8) and his world-class Alegria Polo Team, the Comporta Polo Club now has a top-class advocate in the international sport of polo.

While the world stands still under the spell of the Corona Virus, preparations for the construction and opening of the Comporta Polo Club in Portugal are running full steam ahead. The architects, engineers, surveyors and creative minds have adapted to the situation flexibly, with an eye to the future and as such, are working full tilt on the next steps from their home offices. The building applications have been submitted and the authorities have given their assurance that they will deal with them quickly in light of the virus crisis, which makes their rapid processing and approval look highly likely. The wheel continues to turn and when the world starts up again, Comporta will be ready and have completed all the necessary preparations.

What the builders and Comporta visionaries Stefan Gast and Ricardo Bellino have achieved in the meantime is unique in the world of polo. They have brought star polo architect Alejandro Battro and Andrés Stirling, also renowned for his expertise in building polo fields, to the table to work together for the first time in Comporta. Alejandro Battro, who has built 800 polo fields in 35 countries over the past 40 years, is the No. 1 in the world. Stirling, who comes from Uruguay, has been at home in Sotogrande, Spain, for many years and has built and managed the last five fields for the Santa Maria Polo Club. Both will be pooling their enormous know-how in Comporta. Battro will design and plan, Sterling will project and supervise the construction on site. With a common goal in mind, both will now ensure that world-class polo fields are built in Comporta.

However, that´s not all in the line up of big names that have been campaigning in favour of the new Polo Club in Comporta since its inception. Polo titan Fred Mannix is already exuding his enthusiasm on site and is now fully committed to the project. Mannix is not only one of the best polo players in the world but also regularly participates in the Triple Crown and the Palermo Open with his world-famous Alegria Polo Team. Hence, he brings world-class polo, a huge name and is a valuable partner for the new polo Eldorado in Portugal.

Meanwhile, the purposeful minds behind the project feel that the current crisis has further driven home their commitment to incorporate sustainability, environmental protection, appreciation and a holistic approach into the new Comporta site. Obviously, a high degree of resilience and effective stress management play a huge role in ensuring an optimistic outlook for the future. The construction and grass-sowing of the polo fields is still entirely on schedule for May as programmed. There are also plans presently to set up a project known as “Comporta Valley”. The scheme compromises a digital forum for a young, international discussion group to develop forward-looking designs and key elements for a new generation concept.

Project Manager, Stefan Gast and his partner, Ricardo Bellino, are certain that “We will gain a lot of positive insights from this crisis, which in the long term will permeate our philosophy, right through to the soul, atmosphere and the international standing of the Comporta Polo Club.”

Alejandro Battro

“Comporta is a very attractive proposition due to its excellent geography, climate and proximity to picturesque beaches just minutes from the project site. The developers of Comporta Polo Club exude enthusiasm and we see this as an essential pre-requisite for achieving such an ambitious goal, namely to build a first-class polo centre. At Battropolofields we love a challenge, which is why we find this project in Comporta particularly interesting. The sandy soil has its advantages, yet it is also a challenge and requires special preparation. We will use construction techniques that are very different from what is common practice. We are deeply committed and believe this will be a wonderful location for polo.”

Fred Mannix

“It´s great to know that everyone is on form and not taking their eye off the ball! I feel honoured to be part of bringing a world class polo facility into Portugal. The team that Stefan and Ricardo have assembled has extensive experience in completing a project of this nature. When confirmation came through that Alejandro Battro, the premier polo field expert, was on board I knew we were starting on the right foot. After visiting the location some weeks ago, I saw that Comporta Polo Club is well situated in its location; only 90 kilometres from Lisbon and a short drive to the beach. The polo grounds will be world class and if you want to have a destination club for the summer season, fields will be critical. We will all be working very hard in the coming months to get the Comporta Polo Club positioned as a premier destination for polo and visitors.”

Andrés Stirling

“I believe that the success of the Comporta Polo Club project rests on three fundamental pillars: the team, the location and the courage of the players. Stefan Maria Gast and Ricardo Bellino have embarked on this project with enormous enthusiasm, a vast knowledge of human nature and a sixth sense for hiring the best experts in each individual field, as well as great conviction and a sense of quality. Due to its natural beauty and its vast size, the Comporta region is a place that is difficult to rival in Europe. I am not exaggerating when I say that Comporta can become the horse and polo capital of Europe. There is a great deal of underground water here. The motorway connection to Lisbon, the proximity to its international airport, the marina in Setubal and Comporta´s paradisiacal beaches all weigh heavily in the Comporta Polo Club´s favour. Here you have wonderful, hospitable, authentic, hard-working people on tap as well as first-class gastronomy. In terms of the final pillar, courage. In every project there must be courage, opportunity, adventure, meticulous planning and a large footprint – all of this is can be perceived here, in abundance.”

Ricardo Bellino

“The most important tournament series in the worldwide sport of polo is the Triple Crown in Argentina. Known in Spanish as the ‘Triple Corona’. Ironically, at the moment we´re dealing with the 4^th Corona Challenge. Yet, that doesn´t prevent us from working hard on our project every day, making progress and approaching the project with the right, positive attitude. Mindset is the key to the plot here and I´m currently writing a book on the subject called ‘Mind 8’. The book deals with the fact that our current way of thinking will no longer work for a successful future or outcome. We need to adopt a new way of ‘thinking’ in which we strongly believe in unconditional success and a new horizon after the storm. All these thoughts, which I present in my book, are also highlighted in our project and the development of the Comporta Polo Club. We are embarking on a new era – and preparing ourselves and thought patterns to embrace it.”

Stefan M. Gast

“For us the development and construction of the Comporta Polo Club has a deeper meaning and purpose in terms of wholeness, sustainability and the answers we can find and provide to the pressing questions of the future. So, in this regard, the global corona virus is having a positive impact on our project as it´s leading us to pause, reflect and re-adjust right now. Next month we will be setting up an international digital workshop with young people from a wide range of qualifications and industries, in which we will ask questions about the future and seek very concrete answers that will then be incorporated into our project. Running over three to four weeks, the workshop will focus on philosophical questions such as the relationship between nature, man and animals as well as on very practical areas such organisation, design of the stables, networking and digital presence. Following the themes of Ricardo Bellino´s book, the workshop will be called ‘Mind 8 Valley’ and we are already looking forward to presenting the results to you very soon. Until then, we can count on maximum support from the various official institutions and chambers in the Alcacér do Sal region, especially the tourism departments of Alentejo and Portugal, of which we can be very proud.”

For more information about polo in Comporta, please click here:

www.poloplus10.com/the-comporta-polo-club-78788/

www.poloplus10.com/your-specialist-for-polo-properties-worldwide-78768/

www.poloplus10.com/the-new-polo-mecca-in-portugal-78424/

www.poloplus10.com/portugal-calling-78016/

by Stefanie Stüting The Comporta Polo Club – positioning Portugal as an international Polo Hub. The Portuguese word Alegría means happiness. With Canadian top player Fred Mannix (hdc +8) and…

Europe, In own affaires, Lifestyle, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News, Real Estate

POLO+10: Your specialist for polo properties worldwide

24. January 2020

by Stefanie Stüting

Top real estates, the most beautiful premises, the most luxurious properties and most interesting investment objectives worldwide – POLO+10 knows the property market and is your specialist for polo properties worldwide. You are searching for a buyer of your estate? Or you would like to profit from the worldwide POLO+10 community as a real estate agent? Send us your properties and POLO+10 Real Estate will support you in selling them.

We watch with great interest what currently is happening in Portugal: The sunny country in the very west of Europe is right now evolving into the new polo hot spot in Europe. POLO+10 gives an overview of the fascinating developments and the most beautiful properties.

Portugal/Comporta – a new polo community arises

Searching for the perfect polo estate in Comporta?
Portugal is probably the most diverse and beautiful country in Europe and also one of the oldest countries in Europe. POLO+10 knows Portugal and especially the Comporta region inside out and offers you the best estates.

About an hour ́s drive due south from colourful, vibrant Lisbon, a region that so far has escaped the hectic crowds of sun-thirsty beach goers and loud party people is just waking up. Comporta is more commonly associated with “Herdade da Comporta”, the 43-kilometer-long strip of land on the Alentejo coast with its seemingly endless sandy beaches languishing under an azure blue sky and traditional white-washed cottages dotted around the unspoilt countryside. With around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Comporta has retained its vast, quiet, untouched beauty, unlike the inter- national jet set destinations on the Côte d ́Azur, Costa del Sol and Ibiza.

The potential of this Atlantic west coast region was first discovered by José Manuel Espírito Santo, descendant of a wealthy Portuguese dynasty, who first laid eyes on it from his yacht. He went ashore and shortly afterwards acquired more land in the region. When the Banco Espírito Santo, one of Portugal ́s largest banks, including its owner José Manuel, went bankrupt a few years ago some of the land was acquired by the state. Since then the region together with the seven villages of Pego, Carvalhal, Brejos, Torre, Possanco, Carrasqueira and Comporta has been gently introduced to the type of premium tourism that favours nature conservation, exclusive hotels and holiday homes. The Comporta region is a place of longing as in “saudade” from the Portuguese which implies the longing for a reunion. Endless beaches, sweeping horizons and the sea. Quietly secluded. This place of socalled longing – the new Hamptons of Portugal – has already attracted a number of prominent millionaires who are fascinated by this unique and still almost “secret” beauty spot.

In this touching and incomparable nature, both wide, flat ground as well as the perfect ground conditions offer 100% best conditions for a unique polo destination. Only a stone’s throw from the extensive beaches of Comporta, a paradise for polo enthusiasts will be created, who will find a sunny polo home and the best conditions for their sport here all year round.

This year a new polo destination is being created in Comporta, which will be relevant as a centre for the international sport of polo throughout Europe, if not the whole world. In addition to the new Polo Club, the location and landscape, geographical features and climate are perfect for the establishment of further private polo estancias, polo fields and stables. The polo horses spend the winter here perfectly and it is possible to play all year round.

Polo facts Portugal/Comporta

• Portugal is the most hospitable country in the world
• The Polo Club is located in the Comporta region, one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal
• Portugal has a long and experienced horse tradition
• The new “Hamptons” of Europe
• Best climate for man and horse all year round
• Short distance to international transport lines
• Perfect infrastructure
• Portugal is the third most peaceful country in the world
• Portugal has the most stable government in the world
• Portugal has the lowest inflation rate 2019 in Europe
• Portugal is on the radar of investors from all over the world • Tax advantages for investors and new residents
• Forbes: Alentejo is one of the most diversified and Portugal’s most irresistible landscapes
• 15 titles won at the World Tourism Award 2019
• Forbes calls Portugal “the best European country to live in”

For more information about polo in Comporta, please click here:
www.poloplus10.com/the-new-polo-mecca-in-portugal-78424/

www.poloplus10.com/portugal-calling-78016/

Are you interested in finding a polo finca in Portugal/Comporta? POLO+10 will assist you.
thomas@poloplus10.com

Location Comporta: Flight time map

POLO+10 Real Estate: A new home for our global polo family

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→ All offers by POLO+10 Real Estate at a glance

© Thomas Wirth

by Stefanie Stüting Top real estates, the most beautiful premises, the most luxurious properties and most interesting investment objectives worldwide – POLO+10 knows the property market and is your specialist…

Asia, Europe, Lifestyle, North America, Personalities & Clubs, Polo News, Real Estate, South America, Travel & Food

Portugal Calling: New Polo Club & Resort

11. October 2019

by Stefanie Stüting

Portugal is on a world championship course. The “Best Polo Club in the World” will be established in Alentejo, Portugal. The spectacular project is being planned by the same visionary developer who also built the legendary World Cup area, Campo Bahia for the German football team in Brazil in 2014.

There´s this almost magical moment when you realise that a new dawn is breaking, a new story is unfolding that you really yearn to be part of. South of Lisbon, in the beautiful region of Alentejo, plans are afoot to build the “Best Polo Club in the World”.

About an hour´s drive due south from colourful, vibrant Lisbon, a region that so far has escaped the hectic crowds of sun-thirsty beach goers and loud party people is just waking up. Comporta is more commonly associated with “Herdade da Comporta”, the 43-kilometer-long strip of land on the Alentejo coast with its seemingly endless sandy beaches languishing under an azure blue sky and traditional white-washed cottages dotted around the unspoilt countryside. With around 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Comporta has retained its vast, quiet, untouched beauty, unlike the international jet set destinations on the Côte d´Azur, Costa del Sol and Ibiza.

The potential of this Atlantic west coast region was first discovered by José Manuel Espírito Santo, descendant of a wealthy Portuguese dynasty, who first laid eyes on it from his yacht. He went ashore and shortly afterwards acquired more land in the region. When the Banco Espírito Santo, one of Portugal´s largest banks, including its owner José Manuel, went bankrupt a few years ago some of the land was acquired by the state. Since then the region together with the seven villages of Pego, Carvalhal, Brejos, Torre, Possanco, Carrasqueira and Comporta has been gently introduced to the type of premium tourism that favours nature conservation, exclusive hotels and holiday homes. The Comporta region is a place of longing as in “saudade” from the Portuguese which implies the longing for a get together. Endless beaches, sweeping horizons and the sea. Quietly secluded. This place of so-called longing – the new Hamptons of Portugal – has already attracted a number of prominent millionaires who are fascinated by this unique and still almost “secret” beauty spot.

Stefan Maria Gast is equally fascinated and inspired by the region. Born in Heidelberg, he is a project developer, internationally renowned for his holistic understanding of culture; people and energies; nature and the very essence of the land he builds on.

Gast was the brains behind and project manager of the legendary DFB World Cup area Campo Bahia for the German national football team and later World Champion of Brazil in 2014. Gast and his team are currently in the process of developing the remarkable Alentejo region for polo. Once again, the visionary Gast is realising his dream of creating the world´s best polo club with great thought and precision. It is first and foremostly about constructing concrete goals from dreams, clearly identifying and defining them. Unfortunately dreams without goals are only dreams.” After a year of intensive preparation and research, it looks like Gast will finally achieve his goals. The region offers the best conditions: in terms of the warm Portuguese hospitality, the stability of the country´s economy, political regime and security, the mild year-round climate, the people, the unique natural landscape all point to the success of the project. As Gast points out, “Millionaires from all over the world already have Portugal on their radar – from South to North America, from Central Europe to Asia. Portugal is a safe country with excellent prospects for the future. The region around Comporta is becoming increasingly well- known.

A whole new trend is emerging here. And we are seeing that a previously hidden secret will also be of great interest to the polo world.”

Gast´s experienced team includes renowned employees and consultants who also include pioneers and legends from international polo. However, a deep respect for nature is always the driving force for this experienced project developer. “Harmony, tranquillity and beauty are most valuable assets that we find in this corner of Portugal and we have an overwhelming responsibility to preserve these natural attributes.” The horses themselves have been taken into account just as the polo club has to fit in seamlessly with the natural surroundings. The conditions for the horses will be harmoniously perfect in our new polo club. They play a pivotal role in the sport. Nature and horses are our partners and advisors, and both are treated with the utmost respect and sympathy when it comes to the planning and making our dream come true. We have clearly defined ideas that are already alive in our minds. As alive as the world championship title we dreamed of in 2014, which also became a reality. The completion of this project will transform the small country in the far west reaches of Europe into one of the top polo hotspots of the continent and the whole world is already behind it. Gast knows what it takes to make the dream of the world´s best polo club in Portugal come true. We are looking forward to a great new address on the map and a new vision for European and international polo.

Mr. Gast, why Polo in Portugal & Alentejo?

• Portugal is the most hospitable country in the world
• The Polo Club is located in the heart of the Alentejo, one of
the most beautiful regions of Portugal
• Portugal has a long and experienced horse tradition
• The new “Hamptons” of Europe
• Best climate for man and horse all year round
• Short distance to international transport lines
• Perfect infrastructure
• Portugal is the third most peaceful country in the world
• Portugal has the most stable government in the world
• Portugal has the lowest inflation rate 2019 in Europe
• Portugal is on the radar of investors from all over the world
• Tax advantages for investors and new residents
• Forbes: Alentejo is one of the most diversified and
Portugal’s most irresistible landscapes
• 15 titles won at the World Tourism Award 2019
• Forbes calls Portugal “the best European country to live in”