Hello European Aquatics family,
This edition of the newsletter covers the recent European Aquatics Bureau meeting in Antalya, an update on recent competition results and preparation, as well as our progress across the education, ASR and corporate workstreams.
So, without further ado, see more below...
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Preparations for the 2026 season continue at pace, with several key updates across disciplines and competitions: The EAC Paris 2026 Information Bulletin has been distributed to all National Federations, providing essential guidance ahead of the Championships.
Registration is now open for the European Aquatics Junior Diving Championships via the new Event Works system developed by WIZ-Team.
The EA Open Water Swimming Cup kicks off on 18 April with its first leg, held alongside the Special Olympics Cup and the opening stage of the Masters Tour.
Preliminary entries have been received for Youth Artistic Swimming and all Junior events, indicating strong participation levels.
The Special Olympics Open Water Swimming Cup has been officially announced and will take place in Barcelona on 3 October.
In a progressive step for inclusivity, Mixed Duet events at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 will be open to non-European athletes.
Please note that the EA Open Water Swimming Cup leg in Munich has been cancelled.
Regular coordination calls are ongoing with all Local Organising Committees to ensure smooth event delivery across the calendar.
A new Mixed Open Water Swimming Relay has been added to the Masters Championships programme.
Registrations for the Masters Championships are progressing well, with close to 30% of the target already reached.
The participation criteria for the Para Swimming and Para Open Water Swimming disciplines at the 2026 European Aquatics Masters Championships has been released.
Further updates will follow as preparations continue. |
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Competition Highlights March has been a particularly active and dynamic month across all European club competitions for both men and women.
Among the key highlights were the Men’s Challenger Cup Final 8, which climaxed on the 15 March in Istanbul with a victory for Galatasaray, and the Women’s Challenger Cup Final 4, which took place on 21-22 March in Malta. Galatasary SK took the men's title, after EVK Zaibas in a close 13-11 contest, whilst the women's competition saw Goztepe Sport Club put in a comprehensive performance to beat VK Jadran Split in the final.
At the beginning of the month, a site visit was successfully conducted in Varna in preparation for the EWPC U20 Men’s competition, marking an important step in event planning and delivery.
The group stage quarter-finals of the Champions League are now underway, with a busy schedule of matches continuing through to the end of March. In parallel, this week features the Men’s Conference Cup quarter-final tournaments, as well as the Women’s Conference Cup Final 8, taking place alongside the Anatolia meeting. |
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Cosenza have become the inaugural Women's Conference Cup champions, after edging Saint Feliu in a thrilling final on Sunday 29 March, coming out on-top in a 14-13 thriller. Panionios took the bronze medal, as they came out on top by a score of 13-10 over Tenerife as the final 8 of the competition came to a close in Athens.
In terms of competition planning, two official draws were successfully organised in Zagreb, covering club competitions as well as the EWPC U20 Men’s and Women’s events. A further draw is scheduled for 23 March.
Looking ahead, the first 20 days of April will see a temporary pause in club competitions due to national team commitments, including the Water Polo World Cup. Club competitions will resume after 20 April. |
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Water Polo Officials News During March, a record number of matches were played in EA Water Polo Club Competitions, providing increased appointment opportunities for referees and delegates. This growth in activity should be accompanied by a continued improvement in the quality and consistency of officiating.
The VAR Live Streaming system, implemented by decision of the EA TWPC, continues to play a key role in supporting referees and delegates, contributing to greater consistency and overall standards across competitions.
The EA Delegates and Referees Committee is developing additional measures to further support officials. These efforts aim to ensure that the decisive matches in the final phases of all competitions are delivered with the highest possible standard of officiating. Montenegro Water Polo The Montenegro Water Polo and Swimming Federation is hosting a men's under-15 international water polo tournament in Budva from 1-3 April. |
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European Aquatics Bureau meets in Antalya for key discussions and planning of 2026 activities European Aquatics held its first in-person Bureau meeting of 2026 in Antalya, bringing together leaders to review progress and set priorities ahead of a busy period for aquatic sports. Key discussions focused on strategic initiatives such as the relocation of headquarters to Belgrade, alignment with World Aquatics regulations, and early planning for the 2027–2028 competition calendars. The meeting also introduced new development measures, including expanded para and Special Olympics integration, support for artistic swimming participation at Paris 2026, and increased digital innovation in water polo.
The Bureau approved the overarching concept for the organisation’s 2027 centenary, which will combine celebration with a forward-looking vision for the sport. Governance and integrity were also central themes, with plans for a new Integrity Council, stronger on-site integrity presence at events, and encouragement for national federations to appoint dedicated officers. Meanwhile, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts are advancing through initiatives like the “Female in Aquatics” network and athlete welfare programmes.
Looking ahead, European Aquatics confirmed new partnerships, ongoing work on its 2026 Action Plan, and preparations for its Annual Congress in September. Despite the challenge of rising operational costs, the organisation remains focused on delivering a full calendar of competitions and initiatives, with its next Bureau meeting scheduled during the European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
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European Aquatics Workshop Sharpens Focus on 2026 Priorities European Aquatics convened its staff and leadership team in Antalya on 26 March to review progress and refine objectives for its 2026 Activity Plan. Held at the Gloria Arena, the workshop focused on aligning priorities and strengthening delivery across the organisation, while also welcoming Lia Mountricha as the new Water Polo Manager. Building on early 2025 results, discussions centred on improving cross-department coordination, accelerating digital transformation through initiatives like a unified Data Hub and new app, and advancing sustainability and social impact projects.
The 2026 Action Plan is structured around seven strategic pillars: sharing knowledge; data hub; ASR; aquatic disciplines; education; brand & growth and integrity & transparency. Key priorities include finalising competition calendars through 2028, expanding education pathways via the European Aquatics Academy, enhancing broadcast and digital engagement, and reinforcing governance through initiatives such as an Integrity Charter and stronger safeguarding measures. Increased integration of para sport and Special Olympics programmes also remains a central focus.
The Antalya workshop underlined a shared commitment to innovation and collaboration, with the next progress review scheduled in three months.
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Education, Innovation & Development Update |
Innovation Hub – EA Grant Projects Several projects have been approved under the EA Innovation Hub, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to research and technological advancement in aquatic sports.
Approved initiatives include: Project: Water Polo Digital Transformation using Data and Sensors Organisation: EPAM Funded by: 2026 Products and Processes in Sports Technology Grants & 2026 Aquatics Research Grants
Project: Monitoring Cardiac Responses and Adaptations to Apnea in Artistic Swimming Organisation: INEFC Funded by: 2026 Aquatics Research Grants
Coaches Development The Level 1 Swimming Coaches Course continues to deliver strong engagement through a blended learning format. Online sessions are complemented by in-person training, most recently held in Kosovo from 6–8 March.
The course welcomed 50 participants and benefited from excellent organisational support provided by the national federation, contributing to a highly successful delivery. |
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Officials Education
Looking Ahead – April 2026 A number of key education activities are scheduled for April: Water Polo Referees School 2026 The EA WP Referees School 2026 was announced at the beginning of March. All EA Member Federations have the opportunity to register an unlimited number of water polo referees who meet the requirements to become EA WP Referees. The registration process will remain open until 10 April 2026.
The programme consists of two parts. The first part will be held online on 6 June 2026, while the second part will take place in person from 25–28 June 2026 in Istanbul. Throughout the School, participants will have the opportunity to engage with a range of water polo–related topics delivered by top-level lecturers. During the in-person session in Istanbul, attendees will complete a practical assessment during official matches, acting as referees, as well as a water polo rules test.
Participants who successfully pass both the theoretical and practical components will receive Basic certification as EA WP Referees and will be eligible to attend the Intermediate Certification Clinic, scheduled ahead of the 2026/2027 competition season.
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Aquatics Social Responsibility |
Opening of Registrations – Athlete Welfare in Sport Conference 2026 Theme: “Protecting Our Athletes”
Date & Location: 8 May, Dublin
Registration now open: EA Participation in ERASMUS+ Projects Summary of submitted projects:
Mixed Ability Water Polo
Aqua-Sense
MindHealthSports
MGMSports
Experienti@ 2.0
Athlete2Career
Sport T Index 2.0
GES Index
Trusted Athlete App (TAA) Launch of Women’s Working Group European Aquatics launched the Women in European Aquatics Network – a mentorship initiative designed to support and empower women in leadership – on International Women’s Day, which took place on 8 March.
The network is open to women over 18 who are connected to National Federations, to European Aquatics, or who have been involved in aquatics within the past ten years and are interested in leadership.
The aim is bring together experience, ambition, and diverse perspectives from across Europe’s aquatic sport community.
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New Sport Manager for Water Polo appointed
Lia Mountricha has been appointed as the new Sport Manager for Water Polo.
Lia is of Greek Nationality, residing in Barcelona, Spain. Fluent in English, Greek and Spanish, Lia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education & Sport Science and a Master’s Degree in Economics & Business Organization "Financial Management of Sports Organization."
Her professional career has developed in communications, IT and fintech but she is passionate about sports and in particular water polo.
A track & field athlete in her youth, Lia has been extensively involved as a volunteer at World Aquatics and European Aquatics events in water polo and swimming. She also worked for Paris 2024.
Lia is a dynamic person with experience in managing cross-functional teams, coordinating complex logistics, and maintaining high-level stakeholder relationships. |
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Eliana Lopes joins Design & Communications Team full-time
Eliana Lopes has becomea full-time member of the European Aquatics Design & Communications Team.
A Portuguese national, she holds a background in Communication Design, complemented by a postgraduate qualification in Design and Advertising. She has been active in the field since 2014, combining freelance work with experience across a range of professional environments, where she has developed strong communication, organisational and teamwork skills.
During her time at the Portuguese Swimming Federation, she was responsible for graphic design and branding across a number of events held in Portugal, while also supporting protocol-related activities. This provided her with valuable experience in event coordination and the delivery of official ceremonies.
She is now part of the Design and Communication team at European Aquatics, where she contributes across branding, editorial and digital content. Having recently joined the team on a full-time basis, she brings creativity, adaptability and a strong commitment to her work. |
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In Memoriam - Walter Baer On behalf of the entire European Aquatics family, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and to all members of the Österreichischer Schwimmverband on the passing of Walter Baer.
Walter’s contribution to aquatic sports, both in Austria and within the wider European community, was of great significance. His dedication, professionalism, and passion for the sport left a lasting impact on athletes, colleagues, and the development of swimming at all levels.
His loss will be deeply felt across the entire aquatics community and our thoughts are with his loved ones, and the whole Austrian swimming community. |
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