By John Kenny
The Irish Water Polo Association have announced that they will host a pre-Olympic men’s waterpolo tournament in Dublin prior to the London Olympics.
The event will take place from 5-8 July at the National Aquatic Centre Blanchardstown in Dublin and will host the top four teams in the world.
Current Olympic champions Hungary will take part, as will current European champions Serbia, who claimed victory at the recent European Championships in the Netherlands.
At least five countries are participating in the event. Great Britain, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia are confirmed, with a final team to be confirmed subject to Olympic qualifiers. It is unlikely the Irish team will take part.
Waterpolo is the number one sport in Hungary and the event known as the Dublin Cup will be the last chance for the teams to meet before the London games
It is expected that the tournament will attract significant travelling support, as well as teams, delegates and referees and is a further boost to the NAC who are currently hosting the US women’s Synchronised Swim team as well as the Korean Olympic swimming squad.
“We are delighted to be able to announce this event, which has been a while in the planning” said Bobby Nolan of the Irish Waterpolo Association
“We hosted GB and Hungary last year in a test event, which was a sell-out. It is incredible to have all these Olympians, these world champions, at the peak of their sport, in Dublin for four days, and we are proud to have made it happen.”
Swim Ireland is the governing body for the Irish Water Polo Association and is providing financial and administrative support to the event.
