Water Polo marquee event heading to Perth in 2022 & 2025

Water Polo Australia’s marquee event, the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC), will have a new home in 2022 and 2025, thanks to a new partnership with the West Australian Government, through Tourism WA.

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

Earlier this year more than 190 teams and over 3,000 participants took part in the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, as the event continues to grow in participation and prestige. 

The AYWPC also includes the International Test Series between Australia’s national water polo teams and invited international teams. Australia’s national women’s water polo team, the Aussie Stingers, and men’s national team, the KAP7 Aussie Sharks, are both top-ranking international teams that have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Water Polo Australia CEO Richard McInnes, said the organisation is thrilled to have the backing of another State Government and is delighted to be partnering with Tourism WA.

“Water Polo Australia is pleased to have Perth as the host of the 2022 & 2025 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 national 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 the country 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 with Australia hosting in previous years USA and Japan as part of the Series.

“Earlier this year we hosted the USA as part of three Test Match Series that was show on 7 Mate and streamed online, reaching new audiences in the build up to the Tokyo Olympics.

“Our aim for 2022 is to again host an international team for the international test series, which allows our junior athletes the opportunity to meet the heroes of the sport and see world class water polo in action,” he said.

The Australian Youth Championships will head to Perth in January 2022 and January 2025.

The 2021 event will be held in Brisbane at the revised date of April 2021, with the event to again be held in Brisbane in 2023.

The location for the 2024 AYWPC is yet to be announced.