AUSTRALIAN YOUTH WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED

Water Polo Australia (WPA) has today made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) that was scheduled to be held from 7-17 April in Brisbane.

Due to a range of factors, including ongoing cases in Queensland, border restrictions that are likely to continue for a period of time requiring isolation and quarantine in some cases upon return, the high number of exposure sites in Brisbane and the health risk to our members, particularly any that are considered vulnerable persons, Water Polo Australia has deemed it not possible to be able to deliver the AYWPC safely for our whole community.

While all alternatives have been investigated to proceed during April, an event the size of the AYWPC that features more than 155 teams and 2500 competitors, officials, staff and support personnel, is not an event that can be easily moved in terms of dates and locations.

However, over the next two weeks, Water Polo Australia will work with States and Clubs to see if alternative dates to align with the June/July school holidays is possible with a final decision will be made by Monday 19 April.

WPA understands the disappointment that will be felt right across the water polo community, but during these COVID times, safety and wellbeing must come first.

Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes said: “We are disappointed to be forced to cancel the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships which is a hallmark event on our national calendar.

“It has become more than just a national event but rather a chance for the whole water polo community to come together and we are disappointed the 2021 event will not be able to proceed.

“The recent cases in Queensland, and the current border restrictions imposed by the other States, left us with no real choice but to cancel.

“We know that this will be disappointing not only to all those juniors who have been preparing for months, but also for their Clubs, family, friends as well as our Water Polo Australia and Water Polo Queensland staff who have put months of work into preparing for the event.

“Water Polo Australia would like to thank the continued support from our strategic event partners Tourism & Events Queensland and Brisbane Economic Development Agency, who have supported the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships since its inception and helped to grow it to a true festival for our sport. We would also like to thank all our event partners in News Corp Australia, Suncorp Team Girls, KAP7, Delfina and KIA Motorama Moorooka.

WPA President Trent Birkett said: "The Board met this morning to consider the impact of the current restrictions of running the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, and with border resrictions and the risk of another snap lockdown the Board agreed it was not possible to proceed with the event.

"The Board appreciates the time and commimtmnt that our athletes and officials have made preparing for these events and will endeavour to reschedule. The Board would also like to recognise and support the WPA staff and event partners who have worked tirelessly preparing for the AWL, AYWPC and National Age Group Program camps.

"Never before has WPA embarked on combining these events over a three week period and it is devastating for all involved to have to cancel the week period," he said.

All participating teams will receive a full refund on their team nomination fees and for those who have purchased tickets, refunds will be issued over the coming days.

In addition, WPA have also cancelled the Launch to LA camps that were running adjacent to the AYWPC in Brisbane.  WPA will now look at alternative options for this program as well.

For those athletes based in New South Wales or who can travel to NSW, there is a NSW State Clubs Festival being held which still has limited spots open - please contact Water Polo NSW on enquiries@waterpolonsw.org.au