Westmont, Illinois -- Date Issued: August 9, 2022
The DuPage Sports Commission and FMC Natatorium at Ty Warner Park recently announced another national championship event is on its way to DuPage County, signing an agreement with USA Water Polo to host the 2022 Kap7 Champions Cup, its return in 2024, as well as a 2024 USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program National Championship. All three events will bring elite water polo athletes from around the United States to DuPage County.
“I was born in former Yugoslavia, a region that to this day remains a powerhouse in water polo,” said Igor Bakovic, Director of Sports for the DuPage Sports Commission. “I have a passion for the sport and jumped at the opportunity to have it here in DuPage. The USA Water Polo programs are exceptional — USA Women have won the last three Olympic gold medals and USA Men are proving a formidable force with the program on the rise.”
The Champions Cup is specifically geared for middle school-aged athletes and is expected to feature approximately 24 teams and 480 athletes. In 2024, the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program will draw at least 900 young athletes in the Youth, Cadet, and Development levels, with the goal to represent USA Water Polo in domestic and international competition.
The FMC Natatorium, which opened in 2020, is widely considered in line with the top 10 indoor aquatic facilities in the country. Meticulously designed by founder MaryAnn Kaufman, the natatorium offers a nine-lane competition pool, eight-lane training pool, four locker rooms, moveable bulkheads, and seating for 1,200. On-site parking provides more than 300 spots with an additional 200 spots at Ty Warner Park and street parking as well. “I look forward to our new relationship with USA Water Polo and its athletes,” said Kaufman.
More details on the 2022 Kap7 Champions Cup including an event schedule, tickets, and live streaming information will be available in the coming months on the FMC Natatorium website.
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