The dilemma almost no longer exists - the European Water Polo Championship will be held at the beginning of 2024 and will be hosted by Croatia.
The continental championship was supposed to take place from 3 to 17 January 2024 in Netanya, but was canceled due to the war between Israel and Palestine.
Then Berlin appeared as a possible organizer, then Zagreb came to the fore, and today the Croatian Government gave its consent to host it.
"Financial resources for co-financing the costs of organizing the European Water Polo Championship in 2024 will be provided in the total amount of two million euros by redistributing funds within the State Budget of the Republic of Croatia for 2023 and projections for 2024 and 2025, in the budget positions of the Ministry of Tourism and sports," announced the Croatian Government.
Now we are just waiting for the official confirmation from the European Swimming Federation (LEN).
Among other things, the European Championship is a qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris next summer.
Namely, the European champion or the best-placed team in the tournament after Hungary, Greece and France, who already have a visa to the City of Light, will qualify for the OI.
The three best national teams from the EP go to the World Championship hosted by Doha (February 2 - 18 of the following year), and the Hungarians, Greeks, Spaniards, Serbs, Italians and French have already secured that right from the European selections.
All this is, of course, also important for the Montenegrin national team, which will play in group A at the European Championship.
The rivals of the "Sharks" are Spain, France and Croatia.
The top two teams go directly to the quarter-finals, while the third-placed and fourth-placed teams meet the top two teams from the Division 2 groups in the round of XNUMX.
The group in which Montenegro is in the round of XNUMX meets the teams from Group A of Division B, where Serbia is placed. Apart from Serbia, the group also includes Germany, Israel and Malta.
Bonus video:
