Huntington Beach, Calif. – July 23, 2009 – USA Water Polo announced today the relocation of the 2010 Masters National Championships, presented by S & R Sport (MNC), to San Diego, California, June 11-13. Atlanta, awarded the 2010 MNC earlier this year, agreed to host the 2011 event. This change accomplishes two goals. First, it lightens the 2010 travel load for USA Water Polo clubs participating in the XIII FINA World Masters Championships in Gteborg and Bors, Sweden from July 28 through August 6. Secondly, it increases potential European participation in the 2011 MNC. (Odd-year MNCs allow international entries.)
"In consultation with our Masters Committee and our Atlanta hosts it became clear to USA Water Polo that rearranging our championship schedule during the next two years offers our clubs a better formula for international success in 2010," said Christopher Ramsey, Chief Executive Officer of USA Water Polo. "San Diego is easily accessible to the largest concentration of our clubs, which increases the quality and quantity of our national competition prior to the 2010 FINA World Masters in Sweden. And with no international event on the 2011 calendar for Masters, we intend to use Sweden as an opportunity to entice more foreign teams to join us in Atlanta, already well-known as host city of the 1996 Olympic Games and easily accessible from Europe. We are committed to making Atlanta a great success in 2011."
"The Masters Committee is excited about San Diego next year, and we are grateful to Atlanta for the gracious move to 2011," said Bryan Weaver, Master Committee Chairman. "Both cities have our strongest support."
"Old Mission Bay Water Polo Club will lend our support and experience to the marketing, planning and operation of the 2010 Masters National Championships in San Diego," said Gary Becker of OMBWPC. "We will work with our zone leadership to bring the other San Diego masters groups together to create a team effort. As a group we will work collaboratively to host an event that has grown to be the flagship of the Masters water polo movement not only as a championship, but also as a social and water polo community gathering. By hosting in San Diego in 2010 this will allow national and international clubs two years to plan for Atlanta and their emphasis on promoting an international flavor for 2011. We definitely support their bid to take Masters Nationals to the next level."
"The Atlanta water polo community knows this change helps our fellow clubs follow the most efficient regimen to prepare for Sweden," said Stuart Sheldon, Chair of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee and Dynamo Water Polo Club masters athlete. "With Masters water polo growing outside of California and around the world, we plan to host a superior championship in 2011 that features a large number of quality teams from throughout the United States and Canada, but also from Europe and the rest of the world."
"As one of the largest Masters water polo clubs and a regular participant in international Masters competitions, KAOS supports USA Water Polo's plan to keep the annual Masters championships in California for 2010," said Carl Strand, head of KAOS Water Polo. "Members of our 5-team contingent to the next FINA Masters WP World Championships, which will be in Sweden next July and August, are already starting to make their travel plans. As a club with veteran players living across the continent--including 15 States and several Canadian Provinces--we're excited, of course, to see interest in Masters water polo in North America continuing to grow outside California. KAOS has sent teams to nearly every US Masters Nationals since 1995. You can count on us to send several teams to Atlanta for the Masters Nationals in 2011."
USA Water Polo's 2009 Masters National Championships, held in Irvine, California, saw a record total of 87 teams compete, including seven men's divisions and four women's divisions.
About USA Water Polo
USA Water Polo, Inc. is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 different championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters Championships. With more than 30,000 members, USAWP is also the sanctioning authority for more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport nationwide. It fosters grass-roots expansion of the sport, providing a national system of affiliated clubs, coaches and officials.
