There are two events on the Olympic program, a men's tournament and a women's tournament.  A total of 12 men's teams and eight women's team will qualify to compete in London 2012.  The teams in each tournament will be divided into two equal groups and play round robin within their groups.  Teams advance from there to a single elimination playoff, beginning with quarter-finals.

The Water Polo Arena will be a temporary 5000 seat venue located alongside the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park.  

London 2012 Storylines:
The Canadian women's team will be taking its best shot at a podium finish.  If successful, this would be Canada's first Olympic medal in a team sport since the men's basketball team won silver at the 1936 Games in Berlin.

The Hungarian men have won 15 Olympic water polo medals, more than any other nation.  The country was on the podium in every Games from Amsterdam 1928 to Moscow 1980 and will head to London 2012 looking for its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
 
Canada's Outlook:
After not even qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games, the Canadian women's team is aiming for the podium in London 2012.  In 2009 the team captured silver medals at both the World Championships and the World League Super Final.  There was disappointment at the 2011 World League Super Final as the team lost in the quarter-finals however a silver medal performance at the Pan Am Games gives reason for hope.  A large portion of the team has been together since winning the World junior title in 2003.  

The Canadian men's team was a late qualifier for Beijing 2008 and finished 11th of 12 teams.  Expectations are higher for London 2012 after finishing a best-ever eighth at the 2009 World Championships and following that up by winning silver at the Pan Am Games.
   
Other International Teams to Watch:

MEN

Serbia

• Won silver at the 2011 World Championshipsand gold at World League Super Final
• In 2010 they won both the World League Super Final and the World Cup, after taking gold at the 2009 World Championships
• Won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games

• Were the runners-up to their former sister republic Serbia at the 2010 World League Super Final, after taking the World League title in 2009
• Finished fourth in Beijing 2008 in their first Olympic Games as an independent nation

• In 2011 they won bronze at the World Championships and World League Super Final
• In 2010 they won gold at the European Championships, silver at the World Cup and bronze in the World League Super Final
• In 2009 they won the World bronze medal and were the World League runners-up

• The only country to be on the podium in all three Olympic Games in which women's water polo has been contested, winning silver in Beijing 2008 and Sydney 2000 to go with bronze in Athens 2004
• Won back-to-back World titles in 2007 and 2009 as well as five World League titles from 2006 to 2010

• Won bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games
• In 2010 they finished second at both the World Cup and World League Super Final

• Won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games
• Won the bronze medal at the 2010 European Championships after finishing fifth at the 2009 World Championships