USA Water Polo CEO Ramsey: “Racism, Bigotry, and Intolerance Have No Place in Sport”

Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne

In response to the story out of Garden Grove, California, where video has surfaced of Pacifica High School athletes making “Heil Hitler” salutes and chanting a Nazi anthem, USA Water Polo CEO Chris Ramsey has issued a statement about the controversy.

usawp “Racism, bigotry, and intolerance, such as the Neo-Nazi activities attributed to members of the Pacifica High School water polo team, have no place in sport and are antithetical to the aspirations of the Olympic movement” Ramsey said in a statement to Swimming World. “Such activities violate our member Rules of Conduct, as well as those of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the US Center for SafeSport, to which we adhere.

“We support the efforts of the Garden Grove Unified School District to engage in a full and impartial investigation into this matter, and look forward to receiving the result of that investigation.”

[Commentary: Polo has No Place for Nazis]

USA Water Polo is the governing body for water polo in the United States and is a member of FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) which oversees aquatic competitions throughout the world. As such, the organization has no authority over high school athletics; it is the Garden Grove Unified School District which will investigate the alleged activities at Pacifica High School.

As the country’s largest organization overseeing water polo from splashball, to age group to the senior men’s and women’s national teams, USA Water Polo is the leading voice for the sport in America.

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Ja Bounce

4 years ago

As if the sport isn’t hard enough as is. Don’t need this B.S. in ANY ARENA!!!

Brian Battensby

4 years ago

Not just sport, in society & life in general.