Palamós' Platja Gran will once again become the international epicenter of beach water polo with the celebration of the 9th edition of the Beach Water Polo Costa Brava. The tournament will open tomorrow, Friday the 28th, and will run until Sunday, August 30th.
Organized by the Barcelona International Water Polo Academy (BIWPA) with the support of the Palamós City Council, the tournament is consolidated as one of the major sporting events of the summer on the Costa Brava. This edition breaks a new participation record with 56 teams, over 550 participants, and representation from 17 countries.
The competition incorporates a sixth playing field, expanding the tournament's capacity and offering a more intense competition schedule with simultaneous matches over the three days. Participation maintains a strong international character, with teams coming from Europe, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. France has the most representation (12 teams), followed by Spain and Great Britain (10 teams each), and the Netherlands (5 teams).
The reigning champions, the national team of Georgia, will return to Palamós to defend their title.
One of the most anticipated moments will be the All-Star Game, which will bring together international water polo stars such as Sergi Cabanas and Fran Valera, players from Club Natació Sabadell and the Spanish national team, both world champions. This presence will make the game one of the weekend's major sporting spectacles.
The program will also include Waterpolo Ability, an inclusive sport initiative that will allow athletes with physical disabilities to participate in a match specially designed to highlight their competitive ability and the integrating value of sport.
For three days, Platja Gran will be a meeting point for players, families, fans, and teams from around the world, reinforcing the role of Palamós and the Costa Brava as benchmarks for international water polo and sports tourism. The BIWPA, with the support of the Palamós City Council and sponsors like Es Secret, is committed to an event that combines competition, internationalization, inclusion, and regional promotion.
