Official invitations to countries to compete in the canoe polo competition at next year’s The World Games in Birmingham have been distributed, with the powerful German men’s and women’s teams hoping to win third consecutive titles.

Eight men’s teams and eight women’s teams have been officially invited to compete in Alabama next year, the fifth time canoe polo will be part of The World Games programme. Germany won both gold medals at the 2017 and 2013 Games.

Invitations were sent based on results from the 2018 ICF canoe polo world championships, the last occasion world titles were held. This year’s world championships in Rome, which were to serve as the qualifying event for the 2022 The World Games, had to be cancelled because of Covid.

For next year’s men’s competition the national federations of Spain, France, Italy and The Netherlands (Europe), New Zealand (Oceania), Taipei (Asia) and USA (host nation) have all been invited to join Germany in Birmingham.

France, Great Britain, Italy and The Netherlands (Europe), New Zealand (Oceania), Singapore (Asia) and USA (host nation) have been invited alongside Germany for the women’s competition.

Germany has dominated the canoe polo competition at The World Games since its introduction in 2005, winning three of the four gold medals on offer in the women’s competition, and two of the four titles in the men’s.

Great Britain in 2009 is the only other team to have won the women’s title, defeating Germany in the final, while The Netherlands in 2005 and France in 2009 have both won men’s titles.

The canoe polo competition will run for four days at the Birmingham Crossplex venue from July 14 to 17.