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If you could play water polo anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Would it be near an island, in a lake deep in the forest, or in tropical waters with one of the grandest natural wonders of the world as a backdrop?

All of these are possible thanks to inflatable water polo equipment that allows players bring the game to new environments.

Water polo is no longer confined to swimming pools. Portable water polo goals and fields have made it easy for players to add a sense of adventure to the game by taking it to spectacular open-water settings. So, what are some of the most scenic and breath-taking locations the game has been taken to?

Packaworld has launched its online Europe store, making it easier and more affordable for European customers to purchase its innovative portable bocce courts, goalball goals and water polo nets.

Shoppers in Europe can now buy the high-quality inflatable courts and goals in their local currency, with quicker delivery times and lower shipping costs. 

Orders are shipped from Packaworld’s warehouse in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, operated by Strong in Logistics Solutions (SILS).

​Packaworld chief executive Peter Roberts said the company’s move into Europe would help sports organisers, clubs and schools bring the joy of sport to their communities. ​

The tide is turning for water polo players in the Middle East as they gear up for a tournament in Dubai on Saturday 19 December.

After a quiet year for water polo in the United Arab Emirates due to Covid-19 restrictions, the fast-paced beach water polo event, to be hosted by Dubai Camels Water Polo Club, is a chance for players to get back into the game.

The tournament venue – at Breeze Bar and Grill on the Palm Jumeirah artificial offshore island that resembles a stylised palm tree – will transform into a water polo dream with the help of Packaworld’s portable field and Packagoals.

One of Western Australia’s most beautiful beaches will come alive with the sounds of beach water polo this summer when Bunbury Water Polo club brings the sport to Australia’s south west.

The club has been trialling a portable water polo field and goals from Packaworld International at its indoor training sessions and plans to use them over the summer at nearby Koombana Bay. The scenic Bay is known for its wildlife, including pods of bottlenose dolphins that frequent the area daily.

​​Club president Alice Luscombe says at least four of this year’s regular Tuesday evening senior competition matches will be played by twilight at Koombana Bay from mid-October.

A popular swim school in Washington State is inspiring children to learn valuable water skills and discover a love of aquatic sports with the help of portable Junior Water Polo Packagoals from Packaworld International.

7C’s Swim School teacher and junior water polo coach Kat Cunningham started water polo clinics in 2018 for swimmers over the age of eight who displayed the right skills and a willingness to play.

Held at the swim school’s Woodmoor Elementary aquatic venue in Bothell, the lessons were initially run only occasionally, as a low-key way to show children how to use their newfound swimming skills to have fun. But they grew in popularity and, with the addition of inflatable Water Polo Packagoals in 2019, the swim school has taken its water polo coaching clinics to the next level, Ms Cunningham said.

A visionary water polo club with a knack for getting things done is using portable water polo fields from Packaworld to bring the sport of beach water polo to the Middle East.

The Dubai Camels Water Polo Club hosted the United Arab Emirates’ second ever international beach water polo tournament earlier this month.

“It was a real showcase of beach water polo and Dubai,” said Peter Roberts, chief executive of Packaworld International. “The Dubai Camels did a fantastic job organising the event and the backing from sponsors and supporters was brilliant.”

The tournament venue – a scenic stretch of water alongside Club Vista Mare on Palm Jumeirah – was transformed into a beach water polo players’ dream with the help of a Packaworld inflatable water polo field and a set of high-quality water polo Packagoals.

A bevy of bikini and speedo-clad water polo players joined the wildlife at Jervis Bay in Australia on the weekend for the first major Beach Water Polo Fours tournament of the summer season.

The event was held during the popular Sand and Sea Festival, with players competing on a portable water polo field supplied by Packaworld International. It saw mixed teams from New South Wales do battle in fast-paced day of four-a-side water polo action.

Beach Water Polo Fours spokesperson Emma Brown said the tournament went perfectly despite high winds in the area causing some of the other Sand and Sea Festival multisport events to be cancelled.

"The westerly wind was absolutely crazy, but Huskisson Beach where our tournament was held wasn’t affected at all."

An old quarry in the forests of Ohio is gaining cult status among water polo enthusiasts as the venue for one of North America’s most unusual outdoor festivals.

Known as The Quarry Scramble, the two-day tournament combines water polo, camping, cliff jumping and rafting on the former site of a free-loving hippy haven that sprung up after the Nelson Ledges Quarry near Garrettsville was abandoned.

This year’s festival, held on 3-4 August, was the Scramble’s fifth anniversary. It saw a record 230 water polo players travel from across the United States and Canada for what is becoming an annual pilgrimage.

Organisers Kacy Pugh and Kyle Ford said the tournament differed from other water polo events because teams are made up of people who don’t know each other beforehand.