By Georgia Morrison
In the early 1870s, water rugby was introduced in England. The name water rugby ultimately transitioned to water polo, a popular sport many men and women take part in today. When the game was created, it was played in rivers and lakes, but as it gained popularity, it was played in indoor pools. The sport held its first official match in London and spread throughout the rest of Europe. Tournaments were held in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and Italy. By 1911, a set of international rules was developed to create a sense of organization in the game. In 1924, men’s water polo was added to the Olympics, and it continued to grow worldwide despite the hold-up from the First World War. In 2000, women’s water polo was added to the Olympic games. Today, water polo is very popular as many countries participate in it for the Olympics and the World Aquatics Championships. Classified as one of America’s fastest-growing sports, water polo continues to spread throughout states, high schools, and colleges.
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