Dubai: Organisers of this weekend’s Fina/NVC Diving World Series at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai hope the event leaves a legacy for the next generation of local talent.
The star-studded field will include holders of 11 current World Championship titles and eight Olympic gold medals, with 36 of the 42 medallists from last year’s Fina World Championships in attendance.
Among the big names competing will be 10 metre platform Olympic gold medallist David Boudia of the USA, current world champion and Olympic silver medallist in that discipline Qiu Bo of China and Olympic 10 metre platform bronze medallist Tom Daley of Great Britain.
This is the third year that Dubai has featured as the second event on the annual six-stage series, but the drive to involve local children has never been so apparent.
As well as an opening ceremony featuring a demonstration from local diving club DuDive at 5pm on Thursday, children aged between eight and 12 will also be encouraged to take part in a series of fun 50m swimming races on Friday and Saturday from 3pm to 4.30pm. And, while tickets to see the action cost Dh40 per day, entrance for children under 12 is free.
Core of the team
“We are doing our best to get the young children in the UAE diving,” Ahmad Al Falasi, president of the UAE Swimming Federation and chairman of the organising committee, said. “We now have around five children who will form the core of a UAE diving team and hopefully, with the co-operation of private schools, we can get more children involved in the coming years.
“This event has already led to the creation of a private diving club with over 100 students, so it will have a true legacy. But the UAE Swimming Federation needs further co-operation with private clubs so local divers can achieve the best results.”
Hessa Al Kous, vice chairman of the organising committee at Dubai Sports Council, also credited the tournament’s arrival at the new facility with having positive effects on the local community.
“The legacy of hosting these events is that we have seen tremendous growth in the interest and participation in all aquatic disciplines in Dubai and the UAE,” she said. “These events not only provide great entertainment for sports fans but also inspire our children to become involved, and we hope that one day we will see divers from this region among the ranks of the spectacular field competing here this weekend.”
