Alshair Fiyaz, the entrepreneur and philanthropist who acquired the Polo Club Saint-Tropez in 2014, spearheads the convergence of luxury and athletics as his club becomes a major landmark on the global sporting map.
Fiyaz’s vision was to develop the Polo Club Saint-Tropez into something more inspiring than a regional hobby ground for equestrians and holidaymakers. He planned to take it a step further and build a multi-sport center that will attract the world’s leading athletes to train, rest and stay. A patron of sports himself, Fiyaz’s decision to purchase the club stemmed purely from his passion for athletics and the players themselves.
His considerable additions to the infrastructure of the sporting club have attracted a high caliber of polo players which, in turn, has contributed to the overall success of the establishment.
Justin Gaunt, Director of the St Tropez Polo Club believes “Saint Tropez is the ideal location for a centre of sporting excellence. With the 2023 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, we have the perfect position for athletes moving between two of the major grounds: Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome and the Allianz Riviera in Nice. But we see potential everywhere—for football, rugby, cricket—broadening our offering beyond polo.”
The Polo Club Saint-Tropez, based in Gassin, has already established itself as a leading ground for polo enthusiasts, recently hosting the prestigious British Polo Day and the exclusive Golden Wave Tournament, but under the ownership of Fiyaz, the private membership club has expanded to include a resort, a renowned recreation and wellness center, and an advanced training facility for the world’s top athletes.
The club offers athletes everything from a state-of-the-art gym featuring high-tech machines and qualified coaches to innovative treatments like cryotherapy, creating a considerable range of physical and mental health benefits.
“For the international athletes who come to compete at the Club, and the patrons who come to relax and play sports here, there is often nothing better than cryotherapy. After exercise, it helps tired muscles to heal, provides pain relief, and reduces inflammation. The Club’s owner, Alshair Fiyaz, who is very health-conscious himself, is a big fan. That is why we have a double cryotherapy chamber with space for up to four people. The pre-treatment chamber is set at -60 degrees, and the main chamber is at -115,” Gaunt said.
Moving forward, Fiyaz aims to maintain an elite social and sporting club experience for all patrons of the Polo Club Saint-Tropez.
“The job now is to keep finding ways to improve the club even more, and—at the same time—to ensure that polo patrons, players, sponsors and spectators can benefit from what we have done and what we have to offer,” Fiyaz said.
This article is presented by T1.
Photography by: Photography courtesy T1
