Polo "was dealt a blow on Tuesday" after Audi withdrew its long-standing support from all sponsorship within the sport, according to Gareth A. Davies of the London TELEGRAPH. The news "has left the Hurlingham Polo Association to find new sponsors for the England team," as well as Int'l Day this summer, the flagship day for English polo. The HPA "had been in talks for the past two months to seek continuance of the three-tiered sponsorship but it has not gone ahead," leaving the sport's national governing body in a period of "review." HPA CEO David Woodd and Neil Hobday, CEO of Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park, where the event is hosted, said that new sponsors for the England team and Int'l Day "will be sought as soon as possible, but Test Matches and the International Day event are not under threat." Talks with a new sponsor for Int'l Day "are already underway." Audi "made the commercial decision not to renew its sponsorships for the England polo team, the Audi International Series and the Pony Club Polo Championships after an extensive review of the brand’s sponsorship initiatives." Woodd said, "We have to move on. We've been working very hard to keep them in, that's been going on for a couple of months." Audi U.K. Head of PR Jon Zammett said in a statement, "We feel that it is now an appropriate time to embark on a new era for Audi in which we will further embrace and focus on our activities relating to the performing arts. Audi has already expanded it collaborations this year with BAFTA as well as the Royal Ballet." Audi will continue to host its Audi Polo Challenge -- private exclusive events, "which have raised" more than £1.7M ($2.5M) over the years for various charities (TELEGRAPH, 3/17).
