Water polo at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Water polo tournaments held at the London 2012 Water Polo Arena.
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London featured water polo competitions held at the London 2012 Water Polo Arena, located within the Olympic Park. Matches ran from 29 July to 12 August, and the venue could seat 5,000 people. The men's tournament included twelve teams, while the women's tournament had eight.
Both Great Britain teams earned automatic qualification. Because no teams entered the African qualification tournament, it was canceled, which added extra spots to each final qualification tournament, bringing them up to four available slots.
The draw for the Olympic tournament occurred in May 2012. The men's teams were split into two groups of six, and the women's teams into two groups of four.
- Event
- Water polo at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Location
- London, United Kingdom
- Venue
- London 2012 Water Polo Arena, Olympic Park
- Dates
- 29 July to 12 August
- Venue capacity
- 5,000 spectators
- Men's teams
- 12
- Women's teams
- 8
Quick Facts
- Gender
- both
- Year
- 2012
- Country
- United Kingdom
- City
- London
- Venue
- Water Polo Arena
- Dates
- 29 July - 12 August 2012
- Num Teams
- 12 (men's), 8 (women's)
- Confederations
- 4
- Competitors
- 155 men, 102 women
- Champion Other
- CRO (men) / USA (women)
- Second Other
- ITA (men) / ESP (women)
- Third Other
- SRB (men) / AUS (women)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Both of Great Britain's teams automatically qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics water polo tournaments. The African qualification tournament was cancelled due to no teams entering, which increased the available spots at each final qualification tournament to four. The draw for the Olympic tournament took place in May 2012, with the men drawn into two groups of six teams and the women drawn into two groups of four teams.
Reader's Guide
The water polo tournaments at the 2012 Summer Olympics were significant as they were held in a dedicated venue, the London 2012 Water Polo Arena, within the Olympic Park. The men's tournament featured twelve teams, while the women's tournament featured eight teams, reflecting the sport's growing international participation. Great Britain's automatic qualification for both tournaments highlighted the host nation's guaranteed entry. The cancellation of the African qualification tournament due to no entries shifted the allocation of spots to other final qualification tournaments, affecting the overall competitive landscape. The draw in May 2012 determined the group compositions, setting the stage for the matches that followed from 29 July to 12 August. These tournaments contributed to the broader Olympic water polo history, showcasing the sport's structure and global reach.
Did You Know?
- The water polo tournaments were held at the London 2012 Water Polo Arena in the Olympic Park.
- The venue's capacity held 5,000 spectators.
- Both of Great Britain's teams automatically qualified for the tournaments.
- The African qualification tournament was cancelled because no teams entered.
More in Water polo at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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