Sport Water polo Abbreviation WPAL Affiliation FINA | Jurisdiction Australia Founded 1982 (1982) | |
Regional affiliation Oceania Swimming Association | ||
Water Polo Australia Ltd. (WPAL), formerly Australian Water Polo Inc. (AWPI), is the national governing body for Water polo in Australia. They are responsible for administration of the national men's, women's, and junior teams, the Australian National Water Polo League, and development of the sport in Australia.
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WPAL broke away from the Amateur Swimming Union of Australia (now Swimming Australia) in 1982 to become the Australian Amateur Water Polo Association (AAWPA). Prior to that time, water polo was administered by a sub-committee of the ASUA.
In January, 1990, the AAWPA changed its name to 'Water Polo Australia Incorporated'. The sport is now governed by a national conference of representatives from all states and territories, which elect five Directors to the WPAL Board. Water polo is one of a small number of truly national sports in Australia, with the game being played both both men and women across every state.
WPAL also ensures the senior men's and women's teams tour overseas at least once a year, and in addition holds national men's and women's competitions for 20 & Unders, 18 & Unders, 16 & Unders, and 14 & Unders.
WPAL describe their mission statement as: "AWPI (WPAL) will be recognised and accepted as a successful major sporting organisation both in Australia and internationally through its astute and planned management, the performance of international teams and the presentation of water polo at all levels."[1]
State Associations
WPAL also oversees all of the state governing bodies for each of the Australian states. These are: ACT Water Polo, New South Wales Water Polo Inc., Northern Territory Water Polo, Water Polo Queensland, Water Polo Tasmania, South Australian Water Polo Inc., Victoria Water Polo Inc., and Western Australian Water Polo Inc.
History
The first history of the sport in Australia was launched in February 2009, under the title 'Water Warriors: Chronicle of Australian Water Polo', by Dr. Tracy Rockwell. The 592 page publication features over 1,300 images and is an in-depth reference on water polo in Australia from its very first match in 1879 to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. An updated edition is being planned.
Behind Great Britain, Australia was the second nation in the world to play the game of water polo. The first known Australian match occurred at St. Kilda Baths, Melbourne on the 3rd March 1879 and was demonstrated by Professor Fred Cavill, who had only just emigrated from England. Australian men's teams have competed at every Olympic Games Water Polo Tournament since 1948, excepting 1968 (controversially not nominated by the AOC) and 1996 (did not qualify). Australia were the inaugural Olympic gold medallists at the first Women's Olympic Games Water Polo Tournament in Sydney (2000), and have since won two Olympic bronze medals at Beijing (2008) and London (2012).