Water polo at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Water polo at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics.
The water polo events for the 2020 Summer Olympics were staged at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Kōtō. A total of twenty-two teams took part—twelve in the men’s competition and ten in the women’s—which was two more than in the prior Games. The men’s final was the very last contest held prior to the closing ceremony. Although the Games were originally planned for 2020, they were rescheduled to 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision made public on 24 March 2020.
- Venue
- Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Kōtō
- Teams
- 22 (12 men, 10 women)
- Increase from previous editions
- 2 teams
- Men's final
- Last final before closing ceremony
- Original year
- 2020
- Postponed to
- 2021
- Postponement date announced
- 24 March 2020
Quick Facts
- Gender
- both
- Year
- 2020
- Competitors
- 286
- Country
- Japan
- City
- Tokyo
- Venue
- Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center
- Dates
- 24 July – 8 August 2021
- Num Teams
- 12 (men's), 10 (women's)
- Confederations
- 5
- Champion Other
- SRB (men) / USA (women)
- Second Other
- GRE (men) / ESP (women)
- Third Other
- HUN (men) / HUN (women)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The water polo tournaments at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Kōtō. Twenty-two teams competed, with twelve in the men's tournament and ten in the women's tournament, marking an increase of two teams from the previous editions. The men's water polo final was the last final played before the closing ceremony of the Games. The event was originally scheduled to be held in 2020, but on 24 March 2020, the Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The match schedule was released as of 9 March 2021. The qualification process and medal summary are documented in the official reports, with sources including the Olympic schedule and results archived on 12 August 2021, as well as the official results book and medal standings.
Reader's Guide
The water polo tournaments at the 2020 Summer Olympics represent a notable edition due to the increase in participating teams—two more than in previous Games—and the unique circumstance of the Olympics being postponed by one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The men's tournament held the distinction of being the last final before the closing ceremony, underscoring its place in the overall schedule. The event's organization, including qualification and medal outcomes, is recorded in official Olympic documents, such as the schedule and results archived on 12 August 2021. This edition's legacy includes the adaptation to a global health crisis and the expansion of team participation, reflecting the sport's growth. The Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center served as the sole venue, and the competition's structure—with preliminary rounds and knockout stages for both men and women—followed standard Olympic format. The official results book and medal standings provide a comprehensive record of the tournaments.
Did You Know?
- The water polo tournaments were held at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Kōtō.
- Twenty-two teams competed, an increase of two from the previous editions.
- The men's water polo final was the last final played before the closing ceremony.
- The Olympics were postponed to 2021 on 24 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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