The men's tournament of water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing, People's Republic of China, began on 10 August and lasted until 24 August 2008. All games were held at the Ying Tung Natatorium. Teams from twelve nations competed, seeded into two groups for the preliminary round. 44 games were played, 30 of them in the preliminary round (each team played the other teams in the group). Seven classification games and seven games in the medal round were also played.

Format

The format of water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics:

Preliminary round

Group A

<section begin=A /><section end=A /> All times are [China Standard Time](https://bliptext.com/articles/china-standard-time) ([UTC+8](https://bliptext.com/articles/utc-8)). <section begin=A1 /><section end=A1 /> <section begin=A2 /><section end=A2 /> <section begin=A3 /><section end=A3 /> <section begin=A4 /><section end=A4 /> <section begin=A5 /><section end=A5 /> <section begin=A6 /><section end=A6 /> <section begin=A7 /><section end=A7 /> <section begin=A8 /><section end=A8 /> <section begin=A9 /><section end=A9 /> <section begin=A10 /><section end=A10 /> <section begin=A11 /><section end=A11 /> <section begin=A12 /><section end=A12 /> <section begin=A13 /><section end=A13 /> <section begin=A14 /><section end=A14 /> <section begin=A15 /><section end=A15 />

Group B

<section begin=B /><section end=B /> <section begin=B1 /><section end=B1 /> <section begin=B2 /><section end=B2 /> <section begin=B3 /><section end=B3 /> <section begin=B4 /><section end=B4 /> <section begin=B5 /><section end=B5 /> <section begin=B6 /><section end=B6 /> <section begin=B7 /><section end=B7 /> <section begin=B8 /><section end=B8 /> <section begin=B9 /><section end=B9 /> <section begin=B10 /><section end=B10 /> <section begin=B11 /><section end=B11 /> <section begin=B12 /><section end=B12 /> <section begin=B13 /><section end=B13 /> <section begin=B14 /><section end=B14 /> <section begin=B15 /><section end=B15 />

Classification round

Classification 7th–12th

<section begin=C1 /><section end=C1 /> <section begin=C2 /><section end=C2 />

Classification 11th–12th

<section begin=D /><section end=D />

Classification 7th–10th

<section begin=E1 /><section end=E1 /> <section begin=E2 /><section end=E2 />

Classification 9th–10th

<section begin=F1 /><section end=F1 />

Classification 7th–8th

<section begin=F2 /><section end=F2 />

Medal round

Quarterfinals

<section begin=G1 /><section end=G1 /> <section begin=G2 /><section end=G2 />

Classification 5th–6th

<section begin=H /><section end=H />

Semifinals

<section begin=I1 /><section end=I1 /> <section begin=I2 /><section end=I2 />

Bronze medal game

<section begin=J1 /><section end=J1 />

Gold medal game

<section begin=J2 /><section end=J2 />

Ranking and statistics

Final rankings

Multi-time Olympians

Five-time Olympian(s): 1 player Four-time Olympian(s): 10 players

Multiple medalists

Three-time Olympic medalist(s): 10 players

Leading goalscorers

Source: Official Results Book (page 179)

Leading goalkeepers

Source: Official Results Book (page 175)

Leading sprinters

Source: Official Results Book (page 178)

Awards

Sources