Perth ready to host Water Polo marquee event in 2023

Published Thu 09 Jun 2022

Water Polo Australia’s marquee event, the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC), will have a new home in 2023, which will also feature an international test match series with the USA.

As part of a new partnership with the West Australian Government, through Tourism WA, Water Polo Australia will bring its largest annual water polo event to Perth from 9-19 January 2023 that is expected to see close to 190 teams and 3,000 participants take part.

Since the event launched in 2019, it has quickly grown to become a true festival of water polo for teams in the 12&U, 14&U, 16&U and 18&U events.

In 2023 the event will also feature an international test match series between Australia and USA’s teams, the first time an international water polo event will be held on home soil since 2020 featuring the Olympic squads.

Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes, said the organisation is thrilled to be partnering with the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.

“Water Polo Australia is pleased to have Perth as the host of the 2023 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships. Western Australia is such a strong part of Australian Water Polo, with a proud history and we are looking forward to bringing our marquee event to Perth.

“Since the AYWPC was launched in 2019, it has quickly grown to be the largest water polo event in the country with junior players from across Australia taking part, as well as providing a great learning and development opportunity for coaches, referees and volunteers.”

As a true festival of water polo, the international test will feature Australia's top Olympic players taking on the USA teams in the build up to the 2023 international season.

“The USA boasts the reigning Olympic women’s champions and also features one of our toughest rivals in the men’s competition, so the opportunity to have them train and play in Australia will be very important for our squads,” Mr McInnes said.

“It will also provide the young players and sporting fans alike with the opportunity to see our Aussie team heroes up close in action and experience world class water polo on home soil.”

Perth local and captain of the Australian Women’s Water Polo team, Zoe Arancini, said: “It's fantastic that the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships are going to be in Perth next year, I'm really excited for it. We've got such great facilities and we love our outdoor pools.

“Hosting the USA again will be a fantastic opportunity for the sport and WA, and also great for our Aussie Stingers, as we continue our preparations towards the Paris Olympic Games.

“It's also a great opportunity for those watching to see international water polo in person. I'm really looking forward to it, especially in my home town and I know every other player will be as well.”

Fellow Perth local and Tokyo Olympian, George Ford said: “It's going to be awesome, particularly for the players in Perth. It's been a while since we've (Perth) had any national water polo competitions, so it will be really good for those juniors who haven't experienced it to be exposed to it all.

“These tournaments are always so fun when you're growing up and I’m excited for the opportunity for Perth to have it.

“The USA is a really good training partner for us and we have really good hit outs with them. Any opportunity we can to play any international team on home soil is fantastic.”

Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, the Hon Roger Cook MLA said: “Hosting this important annual water polo event in Perth not only gives young players of the sport around the country a chance to compete nationally and learn from Olympic teams, but the event will attract visitors to Western Australia and support our tourism and hospitality businesses.

“I’m immensely proud that the State Government, through Tourism WA, has secured another world-class sporting contest, and Western Australia will be hosting this important annual water polo event in both 2023 and 2025.”

The Australian Youth Championships will head to Perth from 9-19 January 2023, during which time the international test match series will be held.