Paris Olympic Games 2024: When is the water polo? Schedule, groups, venues, competing nations, start date
Updated 31/07/2024 at 13:12 GMT+1
Water polo at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will see 15 nations compete across the women’s and men’s competitions. USA's women go in search of a fourth consecutive gold, while Serbia's men are pushing for a three-peat in the pool. From key dates and groups, to venues in the French capital, here’s all you need to know about the water polo competition at the Olympics.
Serbia claimed men's water polo gold at Tokyo 2020 - can they retain their crown in Paris?
Image credit: Getty Images
Paris may be braced for a bout of Olympics fever this summer, but if you thought there was a chance of things cooling down in the pool, you’re very much mistaken.
Over 260 athletes from 15 nations descend on the French capital for two weeks of intense competition where they will battle it out to be crowned Olympic water polo champions.
In the women’s competition, the perennial champion United States will bid for a fourth straight gold medal. The USA suffered a slim loss to Spain in their second group game.
In the men's, Serbia look to underscore their dominance in the men’s competition with a third successive triumph and fell to Australia 8-3 in their second group game.
Are their losses a sign of the US and Serbian stranglehold on the competition finally breaking?
Where are the matches taking place? And when is the gold medal game?
Here’s everything you need to know before water polo makes a splash at Paris 2024.
WHEN DOES WATER POLO START AT PARIS 2024?
With every moment in Paris live on discovery+, the preliminary phase of the women’s tournament begins on Saturday, July 27 at 13:00 UK time, with the Netherlands and Hungary kicking off the event.
The men’s tournament begins the following day on Sunday, July 28 at 09:30, as Australia and Spain clash.
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Racing 92's La Defense Arena will host the water polo Finals Phase at Paris 2024
Image credit: Getty Images
WHEN ARE THE GOLD MEDAL GAMES?
The gold medal game in the women’s water polo tournament at Paris 2024 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 10 at 14:35.
The men’s gold medal game will follow on Sunday, August 11 at 13:00.
Full schedule: Women’s water polo
| July 27: Group stage begins |
| August 6: Quarter-finals |
| August 8: Semi-finals |
| August 10: Bronze medal game |
| August 10: Gold medal game |
Full schedule: Men’s water polo
| July 28: Group stage begins |
| August 7: Quarter-finals |
| August 9: Semi-finals |
| August 11: Bronze medal game |
| August 11: Gold medal game |
How many nations are competing?
Ten nations will take part in the women’s water polo tournament at Paris 2024, with 12 competing in the men’s tournament.
Each team in the women’s and men’s competitions consists of 12 players, plus one reserve player.
In total, there will be 120 players competing in the women’s tournament and 144 players in the men’s tournament.
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What are the water polo groups?
The 10 competing nations in the women’s competition have been split into two groups of five, while the men’s competition is split into two groups of six for the preliminary phase.
Women's groups:
- Group A: Hungary, Australia, Canada, China, Netherlands
- Group B: France, Greece, Italy, United States, Spain
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The United States are aiming for a fourth consecutive women's water polo gold in Paris
Image credit: Getty Images
Men's groups:
- Group A: Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, United States, Montenegro
- Group B: Australia, Serbia, France, Hungary, Japan, Spain
The teams in each group play a round robin, with the top four nations in each group at the conclusion of the preliminary phase progressing to the knockout stage. The fifth- and sixth-placed teams will be eliminated.
Where will water polo be played?
Preliminary phase matches for both the men’s and women’s tournaments will take place at the 5,000-seat capacity Olympics Aquatics Centre.
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The Olympics Aquatics Centre will host of the Preliminary Phase water polo games at Paris 2024
Image credit: Getty Images
The tournament then moves to the 15,220-seat capacity Paris La Defense Arena for the finals phase.
WHEN ARE THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES?
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games officially take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
However, the Games technically start on July 24 with preliminaries in football and rugby 7s, with the curtain-raiser at the opening ceremony two days later.
HOW TO WATCH THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
The Olympic Games will return with Paris 2024, live on Eurosport and discovery+.
Discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
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