Dear Water Polo Players,
Esteemed Water Polo Lovers,

Allow me to express, with greatest pleasure, on behalf of the City of Rijeka and on behalf of the Organizing Committee, our warmest welcome to the four best water polo clubs who have the opportunity to compete in Rijeka at the FINAL FOUR Water Polo Euroleague, taking place on the 22nd and 23rd May 2009. The pleasure is so much greater because competing for the title we shall not only have our dear friends from Italy and Montenegro but not less than two Croatian water polo clubs.

After the successful conclusion of the 12th European Short Course Championships at the end of 2008, Rijeka was given the chance to prove itself as a good organizer of another reputable sports event. Rijeka is a port city, a city on water, lying along the coast, and swimming and water polo have here a long tradition, even longer than a centennial. Last year we marked the 100th anniversary of the local Primorje Sports Club and the centennial of organized swimming in Rijeka. In the same year the reconstruction of the Kantrida Swimming Complex was accomplished and Rijeka gained a venue of extraordinary beauty and functionality in which it is a pleasure to be either as a competitor, a spectator or as an organizer.

I would like that all four water polo teams feel nice and comfortable in our City, and of course I wish them a lot of success during the competition. As Final Four Water Polo Euroleague RIJEKA 2009 organizers, we truly hope that also at this reputable sports event we shall prove worthy of the confidence given by the LEN – European Swimming Federation.

Yours,

Vojko Obersnel, M.Sc.
Mayor of the City of Rijeka