U.S. Awarded 2007 Men’s World Junior Water Polo Championships

LOS ALAMITOS, California, April 14. USA Water Polo President Rich Foster announced earlier this week that the United States has won the bid to host the 2007 FINA Men's World Junior Water Polo Championships. The bid was put forth to FINA at a recent meeting in Shanghai, China by United States Aquatic Sports, USA Water Polo, the Long Beach Sports Council and the Long Beach Sea Festival.

"This is unique in that we were able to partner with the Long Beach Sea Festival and the Long Beach Sports Council to bid for this event," Foster said. "The 2007 FINA World Junior Championships for Men will be part of the 2007 Sea Festival, which will increase the publicity and exposure for the event."

The 2007 Junior World Championships will consist of 24 of the top Junior National Water Polo teams from around the world and is set to take place at California State University Long Beach and the USA Water Polo National Training Center in Los Alamitos, Calif., on August 19-27, 2007.

"It's going to be great for the U.S.," said Men's National Junior Team Head Coach Doug Peabody. "There will be a lot more interest in the event because many of the youth players in the area know the Junior National Team players from their club teams."

At the 2005 Men's World Junior Championships, USA Water Polo was forced to send a much younger youth team because the event took place during the college season, but because the event will be held in the U.S. for 2007, scheduling will not be a problem.

"This team will now get to use that experience and the home venue as an edge in 2007," said Foster.

Men's National Team Head Coach Ricardo Azevedo said he is glad the U.S. won the bid.

"Anytime the U.S. gets a chance to host a world-class event, it's exciting," he said. "It allows our local players to witness the sport at its highest level and watch what the best teams in the world can do."

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