The biggest youth water polo event in the world: for U9, U11 and U13, held every year in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) and drawing teams from five continents.
When is the next Festival?
From 13 to 20 June the week for U9 and U11, from 20 to 27 June the week for U13.
Do boys and girls play together?
U9 and U11 tournaments include girls’, boys’ and mixed teams. The U13 event is split into a girls-only tournament and one for boys-only or mixed teams.
How do you enter the Festival?
Open the page of the event for your team (U9-U11 or U13) and follow the Registration Guide: it contains the information, duties, costs and deadlines. A club can enter more than one team in a single tournament.
Where do teams stay during the Festival?
Teams, made up of players, coaches and officials, all stay inside Bella Italia & EFA Village. Parents, family and supporters travelling with the team can enter the village by paying admission.
What is the Champion’s Passport?
It is a code of ethics: the values of sport to respect in order to be part of the HaBaWaBa community.
What is the aim of the HaBaWaBa project?
To spread the values of sport among children and create a deep bond with water polo through an unforgettable experience.
The president of WPD: “It's an interesting project for kids and adults. HaBaWaBa teaches how to know and respect each other, the world needs that today”
From the success of HaBaWaBa International Festival and HaBaWaBa PLUS 2021 to the new project of HaBaWaBa Venice. Bruno Cufino, president of Waterpolo Development talks about the progress of the international HaBaWaBa movement, reborn in 2021 after difficulties related to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021 HaBaWaBa returned with an great event in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy): may we say it was a success, if we consider the waterpolo status just a couple of month before, because of the pandemic?Bruno Cufino, President of Waterpolo Development
The pandemic has hit our sport hard. The age groups concerning HaBaWaBa were the most penalized. Closed pools, training difficulties, and no lights on the future.However, despite the reduced number of teams compared to the past, HaBaWaBa has restarted in the best way: enthusiasm, desire to play, no Coronavirus contagion and good competitions thanks to an excellent organization which we are proud of. Everything went very well.HaBaWaBa isn't just a waterpolo tournament, we saw that in Lignano once again. Why this event managed to be so loved by kids, coaches, parents?
Kids, coaches and parents understand that HaBaWaBa goes beyond the game. It represents important values, such as fair play, overcoming diversity, the pleasure of knowing each others and being together with kids coming from different cultures. That, besides sport, has an immense educational value. Today the world needs this: kids who love their origins and traditions but learn to know and respect those of others. Learning to understand what unites even before what separates is a great teaching that HaBaWaBa gives.After HaBaWaBa International Festival and HaBaWaBa PLUS, Waterpolo Development has launched another project: HaBaWaBa Venice, who will take place on December, from 26th to 30th (click here for infos and registration).
It’s a new project that was born by the collaboration with New Deals Venice Tour, the company which organizes the event and we support. It tries to combine games with tourism and culture and it can be something very interesting and fun for kids and parents... an opportunity that sport offers. Venice is a beautiful city and it can be very pleasant to visit in the breaks of the tournament. HaBaWaBa Venice comes from an idea that in the future can also be combined with some other splendid cities all around the world. We are waiting for HaBaWaBa passionate kids and their coaches and parents, HaBaWaBa Venice will be a wonderful chance to say goodbye to 2021. And we have also to say that in December the 2nd edition of HaBaWaBa Brasil will take place in Bauru: it’s organized by our friends of ABDA and is another event in the galaxy of HaBaWaBa International Circuit that aims to spread the values of sport and love for waterpolo among kids worldwide. After some difficult years we can really say that HaBaWaBa is back.
