Almost six months before the opening of the European Water Polo Championship in Israel, a special press conference was held Wednesday evening to kick off one of the sporting events that have been here in recent years.
The press conference held at the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel was attended by the President of the European Swimming Federation (LEN), Antonio Silva, Sports Minister Miki Zohar, Sports Chairman Revital Gluska Cohen, team captains Ayelet Peres and Ido Goldsmith.
Gluska Cohen said: "It's a dream I've dreamed of for a long time, today we open the European Championships, a competition from which the winners will go to the Olympic Games. This is the biggest competition we will host with men's and women's teams. Israel won the hosting of the competition, not only because of the experience, but because of the achievements in recent years and they are amazed by the achievements."
Minister Miki Zohar at the press conference held at the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel, photo: Oren Aharoni
"The task before us is enormous. 800 athletes and staff will come, broadcasting to 160 million households, which will enable exposure of the beautiful Israel."
Sports Minister Miri Zohar: "We are happy to host you here, as I promise that we will continue to cooperate, we have a great country and everyone who comes will see it, I hope to continue developing water polo. It's a historic evening for Israeli sports as well, it's a very big event and we're happy to host it here this January."
Minister Miki Zohar at the press conference held at the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel, photo: Alan Shaver
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"One of the goals set by the ministry is to promote the competitions, so we also tripled the competition budget, we have a lot to offer, there is a heartwarming development, it is an Olympic sport and it is strengthening all over the world. All the budgets for women's sports have doubled, we have doubled the budget for Olympic preparations and scholarships – you can't succeed without investment."
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