How to qualify for water polo at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained
Water polo has been part of the Olympic program since Paris 1900, making it one of the oldest team sports at the Games. The women’s competition was added to the program in Sydney 2000.
The game consists of four eight-minute periods, and seven teams of athletes (including a goalkeeper) have 30 seconds of possession to score a goal.
At Paris 2024, the sport returns to the same city where its Olympic history began, with tournaments taking place at La Défense Arena from August 5th to 11th.
As in Tokyo 2020, there will be 10 teams in the women’s tournament and 12 teams in the men’s.
Find out more about the Paris 2024 water polo qualification system below.
CONTINUE READING: Paris 2024: The search for Olympic qualification begins.
Preliminary rounds of the water polo competition in the Tourelles pool during the Paris Olympic Games, July 16, 1924.
Image from 2005 Getty Images
Number of quota places for water polo
That men’s olympic water polo tournament will distribute 12 quota places to 12 teams from different National Olympic Committees (NOCs). One of these quota places will be allocated to the host country, France.
That women’s olympic water polo tournament will distribute 10 quota places up to 10 teams from different National Olympic Committees (NOCs). One of these quota places is also allocated to the host country France.
A The team consists of 12 athletes. A 13th registration is possible provided the conditions of the Late Entry Policy of the International Olympic Committee/Paris 2024 are met.
Maximum number of athletes per National Olympic Committee (NOC)
A The National Olympic Committee may have a maximum of 24 athletes registered for the Olympic water polo competition, 12 of each sex.
CONTINUE READING: Sports calendar of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games published
CONTINUE READING: Tickets for Paris 2024: what’s new
Bronwen Knox of Team Australia scores a goal during the 5th-6th round on August 07, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Women’s Classification match between Netherlands and Australia on Day 15 of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre.
Image from 2021 Getty Images
The qualification path
men’s tournament
For men, the 12 quota places are distributed as follows:
Two quota places
In the 20th FINA World ChampionshipsFukuoka (Japan), July 2023. The two top-ranked national confederations in the tournament will each receive a quota place for their respective NOCs.
Five quota places
Through continental qualifiers:
- Africa;
- America;
- Asia;
- Europe;
- Oceania.
The best National Olympic Committee/National Confederation ranked in each of the five continental championships will be awarded one quota place.
If a NOC has already secured a quota place at the 20th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka in 2023, the next best-placed NOC of the respective continental championships will receive a quota place.
Should one of the continental championships not take place, the next best-placed NOK of the respective continent will receive a quota place at the 21st FINA World Championships Doha 2024.
Four quota places
In the 21st FINA World Championships in Doha (Qatar) in 2024. The top four national confederations of the tournament will receive quota places for their respective NOCs.
A quota place
The National Olympic Committee of the host country France will automatically receive a quota place.
The qualification path
Tournament of women
For women, the 10 quota places are distributed as follows:
Two quota places
In the 20th FINA World ChampionshipsFukuoka (Japan), July 2023. The two top-ranked national confederations in the tournament will each receive a quota place for their respective NOCs.
Five quota places
Through continental qualifiers:
- Africa;
- America;
- Asia;
- Europe;
- Oceania.
The best National Olympic Committee/National Confederation ranked in each of the five continental championships will be awarded one quota place.
If a NOC has already secured a quota place at the 20th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka in 2023, the next best-placed NOC of the respective continental championships will receive a quota place.
Should one of the continental championships not take place, the next best-placed NOK of the respective continent will receive a quota place at the 21st FINA World Championships Doha 2024.
Two quota places
In the 21st FINA World Championships in Doha (Qatar), in 2024. The top two national confederations in the tournament will receive quota places for their respective NOCs.
A quota place
The National Olympic Committee of the host country France will automatically receive a quota place.
Gold medalists Team United States pose after receiving their medals during the Women’s Gold Medal match between Spain and the United States on Day 15 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tatsumi Water Polo Center on August 07, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Image from 2021 Getty Images
Teams to watch heading into Paris 2024
After making its Olympic debut in Sydney in 2000, the women’s Olympic water polo tournament has been dominated by the USA, who have won the last three gold medals on offer. Americans have never missed the podium at the Games since the sport’s inception.
Can the likes of Melissa Seidemann and Maggie Steffens win America’s fourth Olympic title in Paris?
Eastern European teams dominated for men. Hungary won the tournament three times between Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.
Since then, teams from the Balkan region have dominated the games. Croatia was gold in London 2012, Serbia will win gold in the next two editions of the games, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Montenegro has also been very successful at the Olympics, reaching the semifinals three times in the last four games.
Will the pattern continue at Paris 2024?
Emmanouil Zerdevas of Greece team defends against Nikola Jaksic of Serbia team during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Greece and Serbia on the sixteenth day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tatsumi Water Polo Center on August 08, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Image from 2021 Getty Images
The Paris 2024 water polo qualifiers schedule
- 14-30 July 2023: 20th FINA World Championships – Fukuoka (Japan)
- 20 October – 5 November 2023: Pan American Games Santiago 2023 (Chile) – Americas Continental Qualifier
- Date not yet fixed: European Championships in Tel Aviv (Israel) – European continental European qualification
- Date to be confirmed: Asian Championships – Asian Continental Qualifier
- 2nd-18th February 2024: 21st FINA World Championships – Doha (QAT)
- February 2024 (to be confirmed): Continental qualification for Africa and Oceania
- February 2024 (to be confirmed): Continental federations inform FINA (International Swimming Federation) of their continents’ quota places and the countries that won them
- March 1, 2024: FINA informs the NOCs about their allocated quota places
- March 22, 2024: NOKs confirm their use of the quota places
- March 31, 2024: FINA reallocates all unused quota places
- July 2024: registration deadline for Paris 2024 Sport
- 26 July to 11 August 2024: Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- 5-11 August 2024: Paris 2024 Olympic Water Polo Competitions
Find out more about the qualification system for other sports that will be used at Paris 2024.