Water polo

Water Polo is a popular discipline of Aquatic sports which originated as an aquatic version of rugby in the mid -1800s in England. Rugby player's physical strength accompanied by the skills of an expert swimmer and footballer are required to make a good water polo player. After the introduction of Women's Water Polo in the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, Water Polo as an Aquatic Sports became more popular.

In 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Sports, Water Polo will be held from 10th Aug, 2008 to 24th Aug, 2008 at the newly built Beijing National Aquatics Center.

This time in 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, eight teams are participating for Women's event and twelve teams are will be present in the Men's event. They are selected based on following rules-

• Host country will represent that continent
  • Automatically the first three teams from the preceding World Championships will be selected
  • One team from the continental Championships of the five continents will take part
  • If there is vacancy, it shall be filled up by the next highest ranked teams from the Continental Qualification Tournaments or Continental Championships.
  Few important points to be considered-
  • 7 players including one goalkeeper shall make one team. Team with less than 7 members, shall not require a goalkeeper.
  • Referees and Judges can be in three combinations like two referees and two goal judges; or two referees and no goal judges; or one referee and two goal judges.
  • The duration of the game shall be 4 periods each of 8 mins actual play.
  • A goal shall be scored when the entire ball has passed fully over the goal line
  • A goal may be scored by any part of the body except the clenched fist
  • A goal may be scored from anywhere within the field of play (except that the goal keeper shall not be permitted to go or touch the ball beyond the half distance line)
  
  
  

  Aquatics
  Swimming	Diving
  Syncronized swimming	Water polo
  2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Sports

  
  Since last few years, Hungary, Italy and Great Britain have been showing wonderful performance in Water Polo events. Fly to Beijing by any of the Flights to Beijing and enjoy the Olympics sitting from the gallery of the Beijing National Aquatics Center.