Welcome to the 2022 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships

The Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe MP - Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement.

Welcome to the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Brisbane’s local culture and community, and hopefully explore some of the superb tourism experiences on offer here.

The impacts of the pandemic have provided incredible challenges, but thanks to the hard work of Queenslanders our state was one of the first to put in place a COVID Safe Event Framework which paved the way for events such as this one to take place.

The Queensland Government is proud to support the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Event program and it is a feature on our It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Events are an important part of our state’s economic recovery from the pandemic because they attract visitors to the region which stimulates the local economy and supports local jobs. Events are also an important opportunity for communities, friends, families and visitors to come together, creating community pride and reconnecting us.

Congratulations to the event organisers and all those involved in organising this event – may it be a successful one.

If you are visiting for the event, I encourage you to make some time to explore the diverse tourism experiences on offer in this beautiful region.

Adrian Schrinner - Lord Mayor of Brisbane

Welcome to Brisbane! We are thrilled to host the 2022 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships once again.

As a hallmark event on the national water polo calendar, our city looks forward to welcoming once again more than 3,000 athletes from over 190 teams across Australia for the five-day championship.

This event further cements the city’s profile as Australia’s premier sporting destination in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

After hosting the National State Championship in January this year, it’s fantastic to hold the Australian flagship tournament to foster our future Olympic water polo stars as they set their sights on the 2032 Games.

Brisbane is one of the world’s greatest cities with stunning natural assets, wonderful weather and a subtropical outdoor lifestyle with a relaxed and welcoming vibe.

While you are here, I encourage you to step outside the pool and soak up the sights and sounds of Brisbane to experience everything our vibrant city has to offer.

Discover our outdoor urban adventures, tree-lined open-air shopping areas and world-class cultural attractions. Have a bite to eat at one of our internationally renowned restaurants or explore our burgeoning precincts such as James Street, Howard Smith Wharves and Fish Lane.

Enjoy your time in Brisbane and I wish all competitors the best of luck.

Richard McInnes - Water Polo Australia CEO

On behalf of Water Polo Australia and the entire Australian water polo community, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all teams, coaches, officials, families and friends who have come to Brisbane to enjoy the 2022 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

After two years, it is exciting to come back to Queensland and to Brisbane for what I am sure will be another fabulous edition of one the hallmark events on the national water polo calendar, this time held in a condensed five-day format that will once again celebrate the sport we all love.

The Australian Youth Water Polo Championships will also be a great opportunity to celebrate our sporting community and our young players. The last two years have been challenging and have brought much disruption to the sport and, of course, our lives in general.

Despite all the ongoing difficulties associated to the pandemic and the recent weather events, being able to welcome to Brisbane over 130 teams and 2000 participants from all across the country is an amazing accomplishment under the circumstances, and a testament to the resilience, passion and enthusiasm of our young water polo players, their families and their clubs.

The Championships are set to foster participation through competition, providing valuable opportunities for our young players to grow their skills, gain experience and exposure to aspects of the sport they might not normally have access to, and also make new friends, create long-lasting bonds and strengthen relationships in and out of the pool. Judging by the excitement and anticipation, I am sure they will make the most of it.

We would not be able to organise an event like the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships without the collaboration and the generous contributions of our partners. Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Economic Development Agency have been our major strategic partners since the first edition of the Championships, and we are very grateful for their ongoing support. I would also like to acknowledge our partners in KAP7 Australia and New Balance who continue to support our programs across Australia. Please make sure to grab your event merchandise while in Brisbane.

I would also like to thank the many parents who contribute so much to the success of the Championships, working tirelessly to ensure their children are supported and have the best opportunities to grow in the sport.

Lastly, I would like to recognise all the teams, coaches, club people, referees and officials who are the true beating hearts of our events. I wish the best to all of you, and I hope you have an amazing 2022 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships and a great experience in Brisbane.