Western Australia will host the largest water polo event held in Australia next year alongside an international series featuring the champion United States Olympic women’s team.
The youth festival will attract more than 4,000 visitors to WA, including competitors, coaches and spectators.
The Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) from January 9 to 19 is for players under the age of 18, offering clubs and schools categories of competition for 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under.
More than 750 games of water polo will be played by up to 200 teams at Claremont’s HBF Stadium water polo pools.
The announcement follows Tourism WA’s confirmation in 2020 to also support the championships in 2025.
The United States national water polo team is also set to play three men’s and three women’s ‘friendlies’ test games against the Australian team as part of the AYWPC.
The US women’s team won gold at the most recent Olympic Games in Tokyo while Australia’s Aussie Stingers, who won gold in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, finished fifth.
The US men’s team placed sixth at the Olympics with Australia placing ninth.
Perth locals Zoe Aracini, who captains the Aussie Stingers, and fellow Tokyo Olympian George Ford are expected to compete on home ground in the Test Series, alongside fellow Perth athletes John Hedges, Luke Pavillard and Tim Putt.
Previously held as six separate events, the inaugural AYWPC championships held in Brisbane in 2019 combined all four age groups into the event’s current form, of a fortnight festival of water polo.
For more information, visit the Water Polo Australia website at
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
“The McGowan Government is immensely proud to continue to bring world-class sporting events to Perth.
“We are sending a clear message that Western Australia is open for business, open for tourism, and ready to welcome sports fans from across the country, and across the world.
“Securing major events is a crucial part of the State Government’s tourism strategy, so I’m delighted that Western Australia will be hosting this important annual water polo event in both 2023 and 2025.
“Securing these championships through Tourism WA is yet another win for WA and provides another reason for people to visit Western Australia in the future and spend their money in our State.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“Hosting the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships is a natural fit for WA.
“These championships will help nurture a new generation of water polo talent through the younger divisions while showcasing the sport’s global elite over the international test matches.
“The sport of water polo is extremely popular here and WA has also been responsible for producing some great national talent.”
