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The London Summer Games will take place from July 27th through August 12th.
Quick, exhilarating and not for the faint-hearted, Water Polo should offer plenty of action in the pool at the London Summer Games.
Water polo is played by teams of seven – a goalkeeper and six ‘outfield’ players – and a match consists of four eight-minute periods in pools which vary in size - from 20m by 10m to 30m by 20m. Minimum water depth must be 1.8m.
Similar to handball, the aim is to score goals in the opponent’s net, which measures 3m wide and 90cm high and sits on top of the water.
To maintain the speed of the game, each team has just 30 seconds to score before the ball passes to the opposition. Players require plenty of stamina as they are not allowed to touch the bottom or side of the pool during a match. Only the goalkeeper is permitted to place both hands on the ball at the same time.
Fouls are divided into two categories: ordinary and major. A major foul results in a temporary exclusion, with the player being sent off the field of play for 20 seconds. A player who commits three major fouls in a game is sent off for the rest of the match.
Players wear numbered bathing caps with special ear protectors that have the dual role of distinguishing players from each other and preventing serious injury.
Each country picks a squad of 13 players. Eight countries compete in the women’s tournament and 12 in the men’s. In both cases, they are split into two groups who play in a round-robin format, with semi-finals and finals following.
Men’s water polo, women’s water polo
Venue:Olympic Park – Water Polo Arena
Dates: Sunday 29 July – Sunday 12 August
Medal events: 2
Athletes: 260 (156 men, 104 women)