How Australia can harness home support in lead up to Brisbane 2032
Australia's teams said it was a pleasure to play in front of home support at the World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup in Sydney. Now the governing body says it wants to host more events in the lead up to Brisbane 2032.
Water Polo Australia has hailed the success of the World Cup finals in Sydney, stating that it proves Australia is well-positioned to host more World Aquatics events prior to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. The eight-team finals, held over five days at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, marked the first time a major global Water Polo event was hosted in the city since the 2000 Olympics.
Australia's Stingers secured a bronze medal, following their silver medal at the Paris Olympics, solidifying their status as one of Australia's most popular and trusted teams. The Sharks finished fourth, defeating world champions Spain in a hard-fought quarterfinal penalty shootout, underscoring their potential as medal contenders for the 2032 Games.
Over 10,000 spectators attended the event, creating an electric atmosphere at the former Olympic venue. Players expressed their appreciation for the home support, with Sienna Hearn stating that the atmosphere made the difference for the Stingers. Head coach Bec Rippon called the crowd "amazing," emphasizing the team's privilege to play in front of their fans, friends, and family.
Water Polo Australia's CEO, Tim Welsford, expressed his confidence that World Aquatics considered the organization a reliable choice for hosting events based on the event's attendance and social media engagement metrics.
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