Olympic water polo champions are diving in at Orange Aquatic Centre this weekend to give our local teams a leading edge in the skills needed to improve their game.
The Aquatic Centre will host water polo players Alicia Smith, who represented Australia in the Athens 2004 Olympics, Beijing 2008 Olympics and London 2012 Olympics, as well as Nikita Williams who represented Australia also in Athens and Beijing.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said it was a huge privilege to have the Olympians in the city.
"Our water polo competition, at Orange Aquatic Centre, is going from strength to strength every year," Cr Kidd said.
"Training sessions from sports people of this calibre will do wonders to increases the sport's popularity and the skills of our local players."
Orange City Council's Sports and Recreation Committee Chair Jason Hamling said since the centre had initiated a water polo competition three years ago, the interest had swelled each year.
"Initially there were a couple of teams who had approached the centre to get a competition going," Cr Hamling said.
"Staff jumped on board with the idea and only three seasons later the competition has expanded to more than 200 players, six junior teams and 8 senior teams with players from as young as 12 to 65.
"Our Aquatic Centre is a great facility, which offers a variety of programs, activities, lessons and therapy sessions for people with a range of needs and requirements. It's wonderful we've been able to include water polo as part of the Orange Aquatic Centre community.
"Competition games are held on Thursday afternoons and anyone who is interested in giving it a go should call the Aquatic Centre."
The Water Polo Skills Clinic is on Saturday and Sunday March 6 and 7 from 10am to 3pm. It includes a range of water and land training sessions and cost $50 per person. Call the centre on 63633000.
The 50 metre pool will be used during the skills clinic but four lanes will be open to the general public for lap swimming as well as a section of the shallow end of the pool for general recreation.
The indoor centre will be open as normal.
Water polo is becoming increasingly popular at Orange Aquatic Centre
