Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece will bid to host the 2028 European Men's Water Polo Championship following recent continental swimming victories.
Mitsotakis confirmed the hosting decision in a Facebook post after the government accepted a request from the Hellenic Swimming Federation. The announcement coincided with his praise for Greek swimmers Apostolos Christou and Apostolos Siskos for their performances at the European Aquatics Championships.
European Swimming Medals
Apostolos Christou secured the gold medal in the 100 metres backstroke competition. The victory marked his second consecutive European title in the discipline.
Teammate Apostolos Siskos earned two medals during the tournament. He claimed silver in the 200 metres backstroke and bronze in the 200 metres butterfly, setting a new record in the butterfly event.
In his social media post, Mitsotakis congratulated both swimmers alongside all members of the national team delegation. He described the athletes as dolphins who helped raise Greek aquatic sports to the top of Europe, adding that their successes made the nation proud following the Greek national water polo team's recent World Cup victory.
Water Polo Championship Bid
Mitsotakis stated that hosting the 2028 European Men's Water Polo Championship represents a unique opportunity for Greece to return to the international sporting spotlight.
He said that organizing the event would showcase the virtues of Greek athletes who consistently bring strong emotion to supporters. He added that the tournament would allow fans to watch high-level matches and celebrate further victories in Greek waters.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the significant upgrades completed at Olympic facilities across the country. He emphasized that venues dedicated to aquatic sports had undergone impressive improvements in preparation for hosting major international events.
Aquatic Sports Development
The Hellenic Swimming Federation serves as the national governing body for aquatic sports in Greece, overseeing swimming, water polo, and diving competitions. Greece has maintained a strong tradition in international water polo, with national teams competing regularly at major global tournaments.
The proposed 2028 tournament will build upon upgraded aquatic facilities originally established for major international competitions in Athens. The Greek government will proceed with the official candidacy process following the national federation's formal request.
