HaBaWaBa 2024: the 5 continents edition

The HaBaWaBa of the 5 continents: this is how we will remember the 2024 edition of the main events of the “game of the ball in the water”. HaBaWaBa International Festival (scheduled June 16-23 and dedicated to U12 waterpolo players) and HaBaWaBa PLUS (June 23-30, U10 and U13 players) will bring a total of 160 teams coming from 19 countries and every continent to the Bella Italia & EFA Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy: all of the 5 Olympic circles will be represented at HaBaWaBa, an extraordinary achievement for the waterpolo world that will see no African national teams at the next Olympics in Paris, instead. This is an incredible outcome that Waterpolo Development reached also thanks to support of sponsors Turbo, Compact Goals, Ossidabile, All Risks – Consulenze Assicurative. However the number of attendees could still increase: the waiting list is still open, WPD is working to accommodate other teams as well.  The 16^th edition of HaBaWaBa International Festival will be dedicated exclusively to mixed (i.e., composed of boys and girls) teams in the U12 age group category: the experiment of opening the tournament to U8 teams failed, but that dream has not vanished and the idea will be revived in the future; on the other hand, for 16 years now Waterpolo Development's role has been to try to innovate the grassroots waterpolo movement. The U12 tournament of HaBaWaBa International Festival will be played by 87 squads, coming from 11 countries: Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary and Ghana, although Black Star Polo's participation is linked to the granting of visas to the Ghanaian players, an operation that failed a year ago due to obstacles posed by bureaucracy. The 8^th edition of HaBaWaBa PLUS will host 3 different tournaments: the U10 competition for mixed teams, which 24 teams will participate in; the U13 boys’ tournament, which 44 squads are registered for; and the U13 girls’ competition, with 5 teams playing. A total of 73 teams from 13 countries will attend HaBaWaBa PLUS: among the debutant teams there will be U.S. La Jolla United, Australians Melville Waterpolo Club from Perth and the Palestinian La Salle Jerusalem Waterpolo, whose participation, however, remains conditional on the granting of visas: given the dramatic situation in the Middle East, the presence of the young Palestinian players would be of extraordinary value to the entire HaBaWaBa movement, which has always been committed to spreading among children the ideals of peace, respect and civil coexistence inextricably linked to the practice of sports. Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland and Hungary are the other nations represented at HaBaWaBa PLUS 2024.  Lignano Sabbiadoro is therefore preparing to turn once again into the world capital of kids waterpolo. Waterpolo Development invites the little HaBaWaBa athletes to be committed and have fun in every single training session before the start of the two summer events: the world is waiting for you at HaBaWaBa, so better arrive prepared!   HaBaWaBa International Festival 2024 (U12 tournament) - Click here for the teams' list HaBaWaBa PLUS 2024 (U10 tournament) - Click here for the teams' list HaBaWaBa PLUS 2024 (U13 girls tournament) - Click here for the teams' list HaBaWaBa PLUS 2024 (U13 boys tournament) - Click here for the teams' list