European Water Polo Championship opens in Croatia
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
ZAGREB, 5 Jan (Hina) – Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Dubrovnik on Thursday officially opened the European Water Polo Championship, which will end on 16 January in Zagreb.
Ahead of the match between Croatia and Spain, Plenković declared the championship open. This is the biggest sports event ever held in Dubrovnik, and the match between Croatia and Spain drew 2,500 spectators at the Gruћ swimming pool.
“A big congratulations to the Jug Water Polo Club, our most successful club, on its first 100 years. I hope that with your cheering here in Dubrovnik, with cheering in Zagreb, our water polo players will repeat the success from Split a year and a half ago. No championship has ever been organised in just six weeks, and this was possible thanks to the employees of the Croatian Water Polo Federation, Jug and Mladost clubs and many others who performed a small miracle. Thank you on behalf of the Croatian government,” said Plenković, opening the championship.
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
In addition to the prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić, Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković, and LEN President Antonio Silva also attended the event.
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
The ceremony featured performances by Four Tenors, Vanda Winter, Marija Vidović, Goran Karan, Klapa Kaљe, piano player Tomislav Parmać, Dance Studio Step ‘n Jazz and KD Kolarin.
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Croatia is the first host of two successive European championships, as the last one was in Split in September 2022, and for the first time in history two countries will host tournaments in three cities, so female water polo players will play in Eindhoven from 5 January, while the men’s tournament has started in Zagreb and Dubrovnik.
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Despite hosting at the last minute – due to the war in the original host country, Israel – the Croatian organisers did a huge job in just one month.
Photo: European Aquatics/ Tom Dubravec / CROPIX
Croatia was formally confirmed as the host of the 2024 European Water Polo Championship in November when, LEN, the governing body for European aquatics definitively cancelled the European Water Polo Championship that was to have been held in Israel, the reason being the war in the region.
