Water polo
Team sport played in water by teams competing to put the ball into the opponent's goal
United Kingdomcountry of origin
19th centuryfirst recorded
1900Olympic debut
1disciplines & variants
4international bodies
Water polo is a team sport and ball game. It originated in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with its first record dating to 19th century. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics (FINA). It has featured at the Olympic Games since 1900 (29 editions). Wikidata lists 1 discipline or variant under it.
Country of originUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
First recorded19th century
Players (as recorded)up to 14
PractitionersWater polo player, Water polo coach
Governing bodyWorld Aquatics (FINA), Oceania Swimming Association, Asia Aquatics (AA)
Olympic statusOn the programme · since 1900
Family tree
Disciplines and variants
1
Fiorentina WaterpoloItalian swimming and water polo club
Olympic Games
Olympic history
Editions where Water polo or one of its disciplines was on the programme. Filled boxes mark the sport itself, outlined ones its disciplines; the small number is the count of medal events where recorded.
Multi-sport events
At other multi-sport games
| Games | Editions | First | Latest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Games | 1 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 |
| Summer World University Games | 30 | 1959 | 2025 | 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 … |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | 22 | 1938 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2026 … |
| Mediterranean Games | 20 | 1951 | 2026 | 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2026 … |
| Asian Games | 20 | 1951 | 2026 | 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2023, 2026 … |
| Pan American Games | 19 | 1951 | 2023 | 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 … |
| South American Games | 3 | 2010 | 2022 | 2010, 2018, 2022 |
| Bolivarian Games | 2 | 2013 | 2017 | 2013, 2017 |
| Islamic Solidarity Games | 2 | 2005 | 2017 | 2005, 2017 |
| European Youth Olympic Festival | 1 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 |
| Military World Games | 1 | 1995 | 1995 | 1995 |
| European Games | 1 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 |
| Goodwill Games | 1 | 1986 | 1986 | 1986 |
World level
World championships
| Championship | Organiser | First held | Every | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| water polo at the World Aquatics Championships | World Aquatics (FINA) | 1973 | 2 yr | 4 |
| World Aquatics Water Polo World Cup | World Aquatics (FINA) | 1979 | 4 yr | 19 |
| World Aquatics Women's Water Polo World Cup | World Aquatics (FINA) | 1979 | 4 yr | 19 |
| FINA Junior Water Polo World Championships | World Aquatics (FINA) | 1981 | 2 yr | — |
| FINA World Aquatics Championships – women's | World Aquatics (FINA) | 1986 | 2 yr | 19 |
Editions — seasons or tournaments recorded as separate entries in Wikidata.Nothing found — try another filter.
Governance
Governing bodies
What you need
Equipment and playing area
Equipment