European Aquatics is delighted to
announce that the Men’s Water Polo Champions League Final Four competition will
be hosted in 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Malta at the National Pool Complex.
The bid from the Aquatic Sports
Association of Malta (ASA) satisfies all key European Aquatics requirements and
has the full support of the Maltese government.
Contested by the top teams from
across Europe, the Champions League (which started in 1963 as the European Cup)
is the continent’s most prestigious professional water polo club competition.
The spectacular Final Four event
provides an exciting climax to the water polo season, which runs from September
to June, and all eyes will now be on Malta to see who is crowned the next
European champions.
President Antonio Silva said, “The
ASA of Malta has a very strong tradition in water polo, and we are absolutely
confident in their capabilities to organise a high-level event to the standards
of European Aquatics.
First Vice President Josip Varvodic
added: "Malta is well known for its love of water polo and the best
players from all over the world come to Malta to play in local Clubs in the
summer league. I want to thank Dr Clifton Grimma, the Minister of Sport who
gave his unconditional support for hosting of this event, and especially the
President of ASA Malta, Karl Izzo, who has been living water polo his entire
life. He will, no doubt, be an excellent host for the Men’s Champions League
Final Four.
The quarterfinal group stage of the
2023/24 men’s Champions League begins in March, when the remaining eight teams
– VK Novi Beograd, VK Jadran Split, Pro Recco, CN Marseille, Zodiac CNAB, AN
Brescia, FTC Telekom Budapest and Olympiacos SFP – will battle it out for a
place in the highly-anticipated Final Four, which will be held from 6-8 June on
the picturesque Mediterranean island.
ASA President Karl Izzo said,
“Organising an event like the water polo Champions League Final Four is a dream
for a small nation like Malta.
“We are thrilled to be given this
opportunity by European Aquatics to host such a big event.”
“We will work hard for this. We will
upgrade our facilities and our pool where we will be playing.”
“We are extremely excited to have
such strong teams coming to our island for the next three seasons.”
Malta’s Minister for Education,
Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation Dr Clifton Grima commented, “It means a
lot for us to be hosting this prestigious event, which is one of the highlights
of the water polo season.
“Water polo is very important in the
Maltese ecosystem.”
“We are always ready for a challenge
and are looking forward to welcoming the top players and top clubs to our
country in June.”
The confirmation of the Final Four
venue is part of the following adaptations to the 2024 European Calendar that
are now approved by European Aquatics.
Artistic Swimming
Youth, 22 – 26 May, 2024 Athens,
Greece
Junior, 28 June – 2 July, 2024
Cottonera, Malta
Diving
Junior, 8 – 14 July, 2024 Rzeszow,
Poland New Dates & New Host
Open Water Swimming
Junior, 5 – 7 July, 2024 Vienna,
Austria New Dates & New Host
Open Water Cup
Leg 1 16 March, 2024 – Eilat, Israel
(TBC)
Leg 2 18 May, 2024 – Piombino, Italy
Leg 3 29 June, 2024 – Barcelona,
Spain
Leg 4 31 August, 2024 – Ohrid, North
Macedonia
Leg 5 14 September, 2024 – Belgrade,
Serbia
Leg 6 21 September, 2024 – Ražanac,
Croatia
Swimming
Junior, 2 – 7 July, 2024 Vilnius,
Lithuania
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