Auckland to host 2016 FINA Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships

New Zealand Water Polo has won the rights to host the 2016 FINA Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships. The event will be held in December 2016 at the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre at AUT Millennium, on Auckland’s North Shore.

The decision to choose Auckland as the host was made at the first meeting of the FINA Bureau in Cancun, Mexico.
“We are thrilled and honoured that FINA has chosen to host the Championships in Auckland,” says Sharon Geary, Chairperson of the New Zealand Water Polo Organising Committee
Geary believes that New Zealand Water Polo is a deserving recipient of the hosting rights.
“Over the years we have successfully held numerous international events including a women’s World Cup and proved to FINA our ability to host world-class international events”.
“We believe that hosting an international event allows us to achieve our vision of creating a water polo legacy in New Zealand.”
Water polo is one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand and Geary is expecting New Zealand to perform well in the Championships.
“Women’s water polo is going from strength to strength in New Zealand and we should be able to field one of our best teams yet.”
“The New Zealand Youth Women’s team is currently 6th in the world and there are some excellent young players coming through our development system,” Geary says.
The Championships will be the first FINA World Championships held in New Zealand and the first international event hosted at the Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre. The facility is currently under construction and completion is expected by mid-2015.
AUT Millennium Chief Executive, Mike Stanley, is delighted with the decision to hold the event at the new National Aquatic Centre.
“The timing is perfect for hosting our first international event in the National Aquatics Centre. With AUT Millennium’s two water polo arenas, it will provide a high energy hub for the Championships,” he says.
Further supporting information
The event was hosted for the first time in Perth, Australia in 2012 and was won by Greece. The tournament occurs every two years and this year’s Championships are being held in Madrid, Spain. The Championships will feature 16 teams who will qualify for the tournament with the exception of New Zealand. It is expected that dominant water polo countries such as Canada, China, Australia, Greece and Russia will all feature in the tournament.