Long Beach CA— Five-time Olympian Tony Azevedo and Azevedo Water Polo will hold the first-ever Aquatic Games Opening Ceremonies at the Long Beach COVE on August 2. Hundreds of youth water polo players, parents, coaches, Olympians and key community figures are expected to attend . these include Olympic swimming legends Jessica Hardy and Jason Lezak, famed water polo Olympians Merrill Moses and Brenda Villa, and Olympic beach volleyball star Misty May Treanor. Water polo icon Bruce Bradley will also attend, along with other key members of the Long Beach Century Club and the City of Long Beach.
Guests are also traveling to the Event from across the globe (Australia, Brazil, Canada etc). ProRecco Italy (the top water polo club in the world) will attend, with Italian water polo Olympian and silver medalist Giacomo Pastorino. Hungarian 3X gold medalist Norbert Madaras is yet another celebrity guest.
The Event begins at 5:30 pm, with a reception featuring DJ Ron Andaya, food trucks, ping pong, photo booths, a custom balloon station, body painting stations and more – all in the COVE’s new “under the sea” venue (light fixtures look like seaweed and walls feature murals by local graffiti artists).
The Official Opening Presentation begins at 6:30, featuring 5-time Olympian Tony Azevedo himself, and video footage of some of the best sports moments in history (highlighting Olympians in attendance).
About the Aquatic Games
The Games feature an international water polo tournament, in a festival atmosphere complete with an Opening Ceremonies, interactive workshops, a Vendors Village, on-deck entertainment and a medal/trophy awards finale. Plans are already in the works to include swimming and other aquatic sports at next year’s Event. www.theaquaticgames.com
About Azevedo Water Polo (AWP)
Azevedo Water Polo (AWP) is an Organization dedicated to growing the sport of water polo both in the USA and abroad. AWP organizes clinics, overseas training trips, and other events geared at creating high-level training experiences for youth. www.azevedowaterpolo.com.