Arabic version: كرة الماء الأسترالية تستهدف مزيداً من الفعاليات العالمية قبل 2032

According to ABC News, Water Polo Australia believes the successful World Cup finals in Sydney showed the country can host more World Aquatics events before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The eight-team tournament was held over five days at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, marking the first major global water polo event in the city since the 2000 Olympics.

More than 10,000 spectators attended across the event. Australia’s Stingers won bronze after their silver medal at the Paris Olympics, while the Sharks finished fourth. The men’s team beat world champions Spain in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.

Water Polo Australia chief executive Tim Welsford said the organisation had aimed to use the home-crowd advantage and create an experience for children and supporters inside the venue. He said the atmosphere remained strong even for the men’s gold medal match between Hungary and Greece, with supporters from both nations and Australian water polo fans in attendance.

Welsford said the event had only eight months of lead-in time, but Water Polo Australia wanted to build on its community support and seek further international competitions. The organisation recorded almost 14 million social media views in the lead-up to and during the tournament. It also contacted participating nations’ embassies to encourage support from their communities.

Welsford said the proposed National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane would be important to hosting events and creating a long-term aquatics legacy. He said Water Polo Australia, diving and artistic swimming had helped initiate the concept before Swimming Australia joined the effort. Water Polo Australia wants more international-style events in Australia over the next six years, as countries prepare for Brisbane 2032.