HaBaWaBa International Festival
Nothing’s like HaBaWaBa
HaBaWaBa International Festival is the biggest youth waterpolo event in the world. It’s a unique happening because it allows children to play as well as to meet peers coming from every corner of the Earth and to live together for a week in a protected environment, but out of parents’ control, sharing an experience beyond sport.
The 17th edition of HaBaWaBa International Festival, dedicated to U11 and U9 teams, is scheduled for June, 2025, from 15th to 22nd.
Registration will open on October 15th: REGISTER YOUR TEAM!
About HaBaWaBa International Festival
The HaBaWaBa International Festival, reserved for children aged between 6 and 12 years, is at the centre of HaBaWaBa universe. Conceived and organized by Waterpolo Development, the event is “supported by” FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), LEN (Ligue Européenne de Natation), COMEN (Confédération Méditerranéenne de Natation) e FIN (Swimming Italian Federation). Since 2008, the year of the first edition, it involves young athletes, coaches, managers, fans and families: every year more than 3 thousand people gather at the Bella Italia & EFA Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro (ITA), the home of the HaBaWaBa International Festival, for a week of sport and more.
The event attracts clubs from different continents and countries and offers a perfect scenario to promote solidarity, regardless of gender, ethnic background faith or culture. The HaBaWaBa International Festival brings people together: hundreds of children, coaches and parents come from all over the world, speaking different languages or having different cultures, compete in a friendly and fun international competition.
Over the years, the HaBaWaBa International Festival has always hosted two competitions of different age group categories: in 2025 U9 and U11 boys’, girls’ or mixed teams will participate in the event.
The venue
The HaBaWaBa International Festival takes place in Lignano Sabbiadoro (ITA), at the Bella Italia EFA Village which lies deep in a huge pine forest, close the sea: it is equipped with leisure areas, aquapark and a large beach. The Village contains 4 pools, where 6 waterpolo fields are installed.
The ethical value of sport
FAIR PLAY
There is no fun if there is no respect. There’s no true sport if there is no real sharing of its most noble values. For these reasons fair play is the pillar of HaBaWaBa. In order to enhance this principle, Waterpolo Development created the Champion Passport, an ethical code for HaBaWaBa players that was translated into 18 languages. The founding values of the Champion Passport are loyalty during the challenge, respect for the opponent, respect for the rules, repudiation of violence and all forms of racism, moral equality between winners and losers.
Every year the HaBaWaBa International Festival assigns the Fair Play Trophy, a special recognition that is awarded to the team that, more than any other during the event, demonstrates via their behaviour that they have embraced the principles of HaBaWaBa. An evaluation of each team is submitted in the report of every match by the game secretary in the form of points. Those points create the Fair Play ranking. In case there is a tie, the Fair Play Trophy is awarded by draw.
The only individual trophy
GOLDEN BABY
Following the HaBaWaBa spirit, International Festival don’t award individual trophies, neither top scorer’s ones: every athlete plays, wins or loses as a member of a team. The only exception is the Golden Baby, the award for the youngest player of the whole event. That’s a way to remember that the HaBaWaBa International Festival is a great celebration which aims to make kids fall in love with waterpolo and sport.
Learn and have fun
WORKSHOPS
At HaBaWaBa International Festival the values of civil society - already enhanced by sport and sharing with other kids coming from different countries - are powered by special playing-educational workshops, which every team participate in during the event. Workshops are organized by experts chosen by Waterpolo Development and allow kids to learn having fun.
Respect for the environment, multiculturalism, the importance of a good nutrition and basic resuscitation skills are just some of the topics of the HaBaWaBa workshops during last years. Experts hold these seminars smiling and trying to stimulate one of the greatest tools available for kids: imagination.
The internship
HABAWABA REFEREE
Not only kids have the chance to learn at HaBaWaBa International Festival. Cooperating with GUG - the Officials Group of Italian Swimming Federation - Waterpolo Development organize an internship for wannabe referees, under the supervision of former international referee Dante Saeli.
In fact, one of the goal of the event is to help to create a more aware group of referees.
HaBaWaBa International Festival memories
Videos from the last edition of the event
HaBaWaBa Official App
Thanks to Delta I.S.O. company, in 2018 Waterpolo Development launched an HaBaWaBa official app that let you know every club, team and player participating in HaBaWaBa events. Using the app, you can also check the schedules and the live results and rankings of the competitions. Free download of the HaBaWaBa App is available on Google Play and App Store.
Winners & Trophies
Read the roll of honour of the HaBaWaBa International Festival
Learn more
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2008
|
|
Torneo 1999 e seguenti Born 1999 and younger |
Torneo 1997 e seguenti Born 1997 and youger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold Medal |
Poble Nou (Esp) |
Vouliagmeni Delfinia (Gre) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
C.N. Posillipo (Ita) |
Poble Nou (Esp) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Vouliagmeni Papakia (Gre), S.N. Vomero (Ita) |
Leonessa Brescia (Ita), Mladost (Cro) |
|
Migliore allenatore/Best coach |
Adria Jurado (Poble Nou, Esp) |
Fillippos Sakellis (Vouliagmeni Delfinia, Gre) |
|
Miglior portiere/Best goalkeeper |
Gian Marco Abbate (C.N. Posillipo., Ita) |
Max Vernet (Poble Nou, Esp) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Ivan Occhiello (C.N. Posillipo, Ita) |
Paul Bodrea (Steaua Dolphins, Rou) |
|
Golden Mama |
Carmela Moio (Mamma di Roberto Scalzone Oro Tiro a volo Olimpiadi Monaco 1972) |
|
|
Arbitro/Referee |
Filippo Gomez |
|
|
Testimonial |
Mario Fiorillo |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2009
|
|
Torneo 2000 e seguenti Born 2000 and younger |
Torneo 1998 e seguenti Born 1998 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Vouliagmeni Papakia (Gre) |
Bogliasco (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver Medal |
Poble Nou (Esp) |
Poble Nou (Esp) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Sport Management Quikko (Ita), Vouliagmenni Psarakia (Gre) |
Montenegro Team (Mne), Vouliagmeni Gorgones (Gre) |
|
Migliore allenatore/Best coach |
Spiros Boulouguras (Vouliagmeni Papakia, Gre) |
Luigi Boldrini (Bogliasco, Ita) |
|
Miglior portiere/Best goalkeeper |
David Serrano (Poble Nou, Esp) |
Guillem Vilar (Poble Nou, Esp) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Michele Mezzarobba (Trieste Delfini, Ita) |
Damiano Bogni (Acilia Aquile, Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Nicolas Aguayo (Poble Nou, Esp) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Mariangela Pagura (Mamma di/Mother of Chiara Cainero) |
|
|
Arbitri/Referees |
Dante Saeli |
Alberto Del Favero |
|
Testimonial |
Alessandro Bovo |
Maddalena Musumeci |
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2010
|
|
Torneo 2001 e seguenti Born 2001 and younger |
Torneo 1999 e seguenti Born 1999 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Vouliagmeni Psarakia (Gre) |
Montenegro Team (Mne) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver Medal |
Anzio Nuoto e Pallanuoto (Ita) |
Selezione Barcelona (Esp) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Orsetti Latina (Ita), R.N. Salerno (Ita) |
Vouliagmeni Poseidones (Gre), Levante Rumente (Ita) |
|
Migliore allenatore/Best coach |
Spiros Boulouguras (Vouliagmeni Psarakia, Gre) |
Petar Radanovic (Montenegro Team, Mne) |
|
Miglior portiere/Best goalkeeper |
Marco Castaldo (Anzio Nuoto e Pallanuoto, Ita) |
Pau Vilar e Arino Bertran (Selezione Barcelona, Ita) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Nicolas Sica (R.N. Salerno, Ita) |
Michele Mezzarobba (Trieste, Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Davide Ruggi (Rapallo, Ita) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Patrizia Pendola (Mamma di Maurizio Felugo) |
|
|
Arbitri/Referees |
Dante Saeli |
Alberto Del Favero |
|
Testimonial |
Maurizio Felugo |
Alexandra Araujo |
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2011
|
|
Torneo 2002 e seguenti Born 2002 and younger |
Torneo 2000 e seguenti Born 2000 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
RN Savona (Ita) |
Vouliagmeni Poseidones (Gre) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Medium Verona (Ita) |
Mediterrani Blau (Esp) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Vouliagmeni Papakia (Gre), Marseille (Fra) |
Sant Andreu Taurones (Esp), Coccodrilli Posillipo (Ita) |
|
Migliore allenatore/Best coach |
Alberto Bertolotti (RN Savona, Ita) |
Spiros Boulouguras (Vouliagmeni Poseidones, Gre) |
|
Miglior portiere/Best goalkeeper |
Claudia Ceriotti (Medium Verona, Ita) |
Edgar Nogueras (Mediterrani Blau, Esp) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Thomas Vernoux (Marseille, Fra) |
Alejandra Aznar (Mediterrani Blau, Esp) |
|
Golden Baby |
Sara Proietti (SM Verona, Ita) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Giuseppina Granbassi (Mamma di Margherita Granbassi) |
|
|
Arbitro/Referee |
Dante Saeli |
|
|
Testimonial |
Deni Lusis |
Mislav Bezmalinovic |
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2012
|
|
Torneo 2003 e seguenti Born 2003 and youngers |
Torneo 2001 e seguenti Born 2001 and youngers |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Mirmidoni Salerno (Ita) |
Posillipo (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Barcelona (Esp) |
Akademija Cattaro (Mne) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Arenzano (Ita), Bogliasco (Ita) |
Avus Aligator (Hun), Pays d’Aix Natation (Fra) |
|
Migliore allenatore/Best coach |
Walter Fasano (Mirmidoni, Ita) |
Francesco Falco (Posillipo, Ita) |
|
Miglior portiere/Best goalkeeper |
Paul Vilar Estrada (Barcelona, Esp) |
Samir Spahic (Mediterrani Blau, Esp) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Giorgios Papanikolau (Vouliagmeni, Gre) |
Alessandro Leone (Arechi Salerno, Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Francesco di Russo (Orsetti Latina, Ita), Sara Proietti (SM Verona, Ita) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Amalia Cracchiolo (mamma di Alessandro Campagna) |
|
|
Arbitri/Referees |
Dante Saeli |
Riccardo Carmignani |
|
Testimonial |
Carlo Silipo |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2013
|
|
Torneo 2004 e seguenti Born 2004 and younger |
Torneo 2002 e seguenti Born 2002 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Mirmidoni Salerno (Ita) |
RN Savona (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
CN Marseille (Fra) |
CN Marseille (Fra) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Arenzano (Ita), Bogliasco (Ita) |
Avus Aligator (Hun), Pays D’Aix Requins (Fra) |
|
Migliore portiere/Best goalkeeper |
Esteban Artero (Marseille, Fra) |
Mathis Pellegrini (Marseille, Fra) |
|
Capocannoniere/Top scorer |
Thomas Vernoux (Marseille, Fra) |
Milos Mrsic |
|
Golden Baby |
Ettore Bodrato (Ita) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Biserka Bukic (Mamma di Perica Bukic) |
|
|
Arbitri/Referees |
Filippo Gomez |
Boris Margeta |
|
Testimonial |
Perica Bukic |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2014
|
|
Torneo 2005 e seguenti Born 2005 and younger |
Torneo 2003 e seguenti Born 2003 and youngers |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Marseille White Sharks (Fra) |
Club Natacio Barcelona (Esp) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Mirmidoni Salerno (Ita) |
Swim Academy (Ita) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Plebiscito Padova (Ita), Akademija Cattaro (Mne) |
Blu Team Catania (Ita), Arechi Invicti (Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Giammaria Di Lenola (Latina Pallanuoto, Ita) |
|
|
Golden Mama |
Anna Fantini (Mamma di Valentino Gallo) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Valentino Gallo |
|
|
Ospite d’onore |
Gianni De Magistris |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2015
|
|
Torneo 2006 e seguenti Born 2006 and younger |
Torneo 2004 e seguenti Born 2004 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
RN Bogliasco (Ita) |
Posillipo Coccodrilli (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
RN Savona 2006 (Ita) |
White Shark Marseille (Fra) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Cattaro06 (Mne), Small Team Arenzano (Ita) |
Ferencvaros (Hun), RN Savona 2004 (Ita) |
|
Fair Play |
ASD Blu 3000 (Ita) |
|
|
Golden Baby |
Leonardo Fiorini (Akrosport Roma- Mini, Ita) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Alessandro Bovo |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2016
|
|
Torneo 2007 e seguenti Born 2007 and younger |
Torneo 2005 e seguenti Born 2005 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
KSI Blue Dolphins (Hun) |
CM Marseile White Shark (Fra) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
CN Marseille Bull Shark (Fra) |
Arechi Dream Team (Ita) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Gezira Sharks (Egy), Posillipo Coccodrilli U9 (Ita) |
Posillipo Coccodrilli (Ita), Szegedi 1 (Hun) |
|
Fair Play |
Imperia Ranette (Ita) |
Waterpolo Bari (Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Nicolò Masiero (Latina-Aquademia, Ita) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Paolo De Crescenzo |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2017
|
|
Torneo 2008 e seguenti Born 2008 and younger |
Torneo 2006 e seguenti Born 2006 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Team Azur Monaco (Fra-Mco) |
Posillipo Coccodrilli (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Patras Dias (Gre) |
Ferencvaros (Hun) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Savona 09 (Ita), KSI Blue Dolphins (Hun) |
Savona U11 (Ita), Ondablu Dalmine (Ita) |
|
Fair Play |
KSI Blue Dolphins (Hun) |
Patras Apollon (Gre) |
|
Golden Baby |
Georgia Lampatou (Patras Nautical Club, Gre) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Stefano Tempesti |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2018
|
|
Torneo 2009 e seguenti Born 2009 and younger |
Torneo 2007 e seguenti Born 2007 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Pallanuoto Salerno (Ita) |
Aqavion (Ita) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Pro Recco Academy – Nuotatori Genovesi (Ita) |
San Mauro Tigri (Ita) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
KSI Blue Dolphins (Hun), Small Team Arenzano (Ita) |
Avus (Hun), Swim Academy 07 (Ita) |
|
Fair Play |
Leoncini Roma Vis Nova-Perugia (Ita) |
Laxerti My Sport (Ita) |
|
Golden Baby |
Tommaso Dottori (Leoncini Roma Vis Nova-Perugia, Ita) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Sandro Campagna |
|
HaBaWaBa International Festival 2019
|
|
Torneo 2010 e seguenti Born 2010 and younger |
Torneo 2008 e seguenti Born 2008 and younger |
|
Squadra campione/Gold medal |
Blue Dolphins KSI (Hun) |
Pecsi Sport U11 (Hun) |
|
Seconda classificata/Silver medal |
Club Aquatico Pescara (Ita) |
Bradale Savona (Ita) |
|
Terze classificate/Bronze medals |
Campanassa Savona (Ita), Team Azur Paca (Fra) |
Szeged (Hun), Szolnok (Hun) |
|
Fair Play |
Lupetti Perugia (Ita), Manianpama XS (Ita) |
Sote (Hun) |
|
Golden Baby |
Vittoria Gerosa (N.C. Monza – Blue Wave Crabs, Ita) |
|
|
Testimonial |
Fabio Bencivenga |
|
Contact us
President Prof. Bruno Cufino
Registered office WPD
Via Marco Polo, 25
81030 CastelVolturno (CE) – Italy
Via Marco Polo, 25
81030 CastelVolturno (CE) – Italy
WPD Management – admin@habawaba.com
Press office – redazione@wpdworld.com
General secretary – office@habawaba.com
HaBaWaBa International Festival – office@habawaba.com
HaBaWaBa Plus U13 – u13plus@habawaba.com
Contact Form: