GRASSROOTS
themselves to the fore. While inevita- bly much media focus will be on the big names in diving and swimming, such as Tom Daley and Rebecca Adlington re- spectively, other aquatic disciplines will be showcasing their talents to the world and rightly deserve equal recognition. Water polo is one such discipline,
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which will, without doubt, provide an exciting and fast-paced game for Olym- pic spectators. Combining the skill and tactical elements of football with the ag- gression and physical contest of rugby, it has officially been recognised as one of the toughest sports in the world.
ith the eyes of the world on London this summer, it’s the perfect time for lesser-known sports to bring
The ASA reveals its plans to inspire a new generation of potential players to get involved in this fast-paced water sport
Men’s water polo was, in fact, one
of the first team sports in the Olym- pics in Paris in 1900, when Great Britain took the lead winning four gold med- als. It wasn’t until 2000 however, that women’s water polo became an Olympic sport. The popularity of the game grew incredibly in other nations, most notably in Eastern Europe where professional leagues were set up and in many coun- tries it became their national sport.
A rising popularity Approximately 15,000 people partici- pate in the UK, across all levels, and it is predicted that the sport will continue to grow in popularity – especially if our teams do well in London this summer. With the introduction of mini-polo
Above and top: British Gas National ASA Age Group Water Polo Championships 2011
and other variations of the game, leisure providers and swimming clubs are find- ing that it is becoming more popular as an alternative to progressing on to competitive swimming. In fact many ath- letes who have represented their country in competitive swimming are also choos- ing to extend their aquatic careers by taking up water polo. Today, the GB men’s and women’s
teams are enjoying much success in Europe against some of the toughest
44 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
nations in the world. In January 2012, the British Gas GBR Women’s Team became the first British team since 1997 to com- pete at the LEN European Water Polo Championships after a successful qualifi- cation campaign in 2011. The British are the only confirmed European entry for the women’s competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with other Europe- an teams in with a chance of qualifying at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Trieste, Italy this April. Also this year, a British men’s team will
contest in the Olympic Games for the first time since Melbourne in 1956. The British men have played a number of higher-ranked countries in recent seasons and come away with credit as they con- tinue to improve ahead of the biggest challenge their careers in London.
Developing for the world stage Some of our top British water polo athletes, such as team captains Fran Leighton and Craig Figes, started in grassroots sport and are resounding proof of the merits of a strong devel- opment programme to provide a solid foundation from which elite athletes grow. To ensure that this success contin- ues, the ASA has invested in a number
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