East Meadow, NY -Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Presiding Officer of the County Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) formally announced Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. that The Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) Water Polo World League Super Final - the "World Cup" of water polo, as it is known -will take place in Nassau County at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY.

Photo (L to R): Michael Hollander, President of the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission; Judy Jacobs, Nassau County Legislator Presiding Officer; Claudio Bozzo, President of the 2003 Water Polo Organizing Committee; County Executive Suozzi; Tom Seitz, Executive Director for USA Water Polo; and Stuart Held, Executive Director of the Nassau County Sports, Entertainment and Tourism Committee.

The tournament, to be held in the United States for the first time this summer, will take place on Long Island, New York, August 22 to 25, at the Nassau County Aquatic Center, the site of the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1999 Empire States Games. Six national men's teams - United States, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia) - will participate in this year's championship tournament. The winning team automatically qualifies for the Summer Olympics in Athens.

"We are very excited that the finals are being held in Nassau County," County Executive Suozzi said. "The games will be a fun and exciting international event for everyone. The 80,000 square foot Swimming and Diving Center at Eisenhower Park not only boasts a world-class natatorium, the largest in North America, but also provides spectators with a wonderful view of the action."

"The Aquatic Center is one of Nassau's best kept secrets," Presiding Officer Jacobs said. "It is the jewel of our parks system and I am thrilled to have a competitive event of international magnitude here."

"The FINA World League Water Polo is truly an international event," said Claudio Bozzo, President of the 2003 Water Polo Organizing Committee. "It is our commitment to ensure that this competition will do for water polo's popularity here what the 1994 World Cup did for soccer's."

"This is an opportunity to show our facilities and services for the International Olympic Committee, and hope that the success of the event will encourage them to consider New York for the 2012 Olympics," said Michael Hollander, President of the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission.

The championship is the final event of the FINA World League.