Gianazza, Xenaki & Co.: the HaBaWaBa Stars in Paris 2024
As many as 21 waterpolo players in the last Olympics participated in the Festival as kids: there were only 2 in Tokyo 2020
After the European and World Championships played in winter, also Paris 2024 Olympics represented a prestigious stage for the HaBaWaBa Stars, the international waterpolo players who participated in HaBaWaBa as they were kids: they were as many as 21, coming from 6 different countries.
France international Romain Marion-Vernoux (ph. A. Masini - DeepBlueMedia). Above the Italian Condemi, Bettini and Gianazza.
It was a big leap forward compared to Tokyo 2020, which only 2 of HaBaWaBa Stars in Paris participated in, Montenegrin Petar Tesanovic and Miroslav Perkovic. This kind of growth leads us to think that the number of waterpolo players with a past at HaBaWaBa is expected to increase further in the future.
In Paris 2024 some of the HaBaWaBa Stars confirmed their exceptional talent: we’re talking about Italian Francesco Condemi, Montenegrin Marko Mrsic or Greek Eleni Xenaki, nowadays of the best centerforwards on the international scene. Other Stars were authentic surprises: Tommaso Gianazza, at his first international tournament, was one the best of the Italian Settebello, while the French quartet composed of Juliette Dhalluin, Ema Vernoux, Valentine Heurtaux and Lara Andres demonstrated that they can play at the same level with the best teams in the world.
Other former HaBaWaBa players, however, appeared to be in the midst of a path that could turn them into true champions: Italian Dafne Bettini and Agnese Cocchiere, French Romain Marion-Vernoux and Enzo Nardon, Japanese Kai Inoue and Romanian Andrei Tepelus seem ready to become pillars of their national teams in the new Olympic four-year period.
Anyway the Olympics also reserved some disappointment for some HaBaWaBa Stars: Thomas Vernoux and Sofia Giustini, players who debuted at an international level at a very young age showing indisputable abilities, certainly did not play the best tournament of their careers. However sport always offers an opportunity for redemption: to achieve that, you need talent and determination, qualities that the HaBaWaBa Stars certainly do not lack.
Il più grande evento di pallanuoto giovanile al mondo: riservato a U9, U11 e U13, si tiene ogni anno a Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) e attira squadre dai 5 continenti.
Quando è in programma il prossimo Festival?
Dal 13 al 20 giugno la settimana dedicata a U9 e U11, dal 20 al 27 giugno quella per gli U13.
Maschi e femmine giocano insieme?
Ai tornei U9 e U11 partecipano squadre femminili, maschili e miste. L’evento U13 è diviso in un torneo esclusivamente femminile e in uno per squadre solo maschili o miste.
Come ci si iscrive al Festival?
Visita la pagina dell’evento che interessa alla tua squadra (U9-U11 o U13) e segui la Guida alla Registrazione: contiene informazioni, obblighi, costi e scadenze. Ogni club può iscrivere più di una squadra nel singolo torneo.
Dove alloggiano le squadre durante il Festival?
Le squadre, composte da giocatori, allenatori e dirigenti, sono tutte sistemate all’interno del Bella Italia & EFA Village. Genitori, familiari e tifosi al seguito della squadra possono entrare nel villaggio pagando l’ingresso.
Cos’è il Passaporto del Campione?
È un codice etico: contiene i valori dello sport da rispettare per far parte della comunità HaBaWaBa.
Qual è l’obiettivo del progetto HaBaWaBa?
Diffondere i valori dello sport tra i bambini e creare un legame profondo con la pallanuoto attraverso un’esperienza indimenticabile.
