Tom Daley and Roseline Filion headline FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2015 in Dubai

Sport360 staff 17:20 18/03/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Roseline Filion (l) and Tom Daley.

    World-class diving returns to the UAE tomorrow as the second round of the FINA/NVC Diving World Series 2015 kicks off in Dubai.  Sixty eight competitors from fourteen countries have arrived in Dubai ready for the competition which takes place at the Hamdan Sports Complex this Thursday, Friday and Saturday 19-21 March 2015.

    – World's top divers out to topple China at Hamdan Sports Complex
    – Italian Rachele Bruni wins 10km in Abu Dhabi

    The event will feature a star studded line-up of top class divers including multiple world and Olympic champions. Countries represented include China, Great Britain, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Russia.

    The first round of the invitation-only competition was held in Beijing last weekend, and following the Dubai leg the series will move to Kazan, Russia; then on to London, Windsor, Canada before the final leg in Merida, Mexico in May.

    Speaking at a pre-event press conference at the venue today, Cornel Marculescu, FINA Executive Director, said “We are very happy to be back in Dubai at one of the best venues in the world. It is wonderful to see how diving has grown in Dubai from having this event here.

    “The diving family never dreamed we would have such prize money and world-wide interest, so I would like to thank our sponsor NVC for their contribution and support. I would also like to thank the rulers of Dubai, the Dubai Sports Council and UAE Swimming for their support of this event.”

    Khuwaiter Al Dhaheri, Assistant General Secretary of the UAE Swimming Federation said: “We witnessed some spectacular diving here last year and are delighted to be welcoming the world’s best back again.

    (L to R) Khuwaiter Al Dhaheri, Cornel Marculescu and Kathy Seaman.

    "The quality of the field is again outstanding and we are looking forward to seeing the very best divers in the world compete over the next three days.

    “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.

    "These events not only provide great entertainment for sports fans but 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.

    “We thank FINA for their support of the development of aquatic sports in Dubai through awarding us the rights to hold these events” he added.

    The press conference was also attended by Chen Jian Rong, Director and Vice President of series sponsor NVC; Kathy Seaman, Chairman of the FINA Technical Diving Committee; as well as top divers, former world champion Tom Daley of Great Britain and World Championships silver medallist Roseline Filion.

    “We are proud to be title sponsor of this series, diving for us represents something that is young, growing and always improving, which is also the NVC spirit.

    "We welcome the divers and wish them the best for a successful competition” said Chen.

    Chen Jiang Rong (l) and Roseline Filion.

    Filion said “I’m always really excited to come to Dubai, we always get such a warm welcome, the city is great and the weather is fantastic.

    "The World Series is a great opportunity to compete against the best divers, and it’s really important in this World Championships and Olympic qualifying year to know where the other divers are.”

    Daley added “The World Series is an amazing event, we all need to have competition endurance and competing six times in such a short period is really good as we need to able to compete weekend after weekend.

    "It’s great to be back in Dubai, I love it here and everyone always looks after us so well.

    "My big aim this year is to qualify for the Olympics. I have a new dive I’m working on, it’s still a work in progress!”

    In a new addition this year there will be competition for mixed teams in the 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro.

    "These events have been included in the diving competition at the FINA World Championships this year for the first time, so teams will be using the Diving World Series to perfect their performances as they aim to become the first World Champions in this discipline. 

    Commenting on the new event, Seaman said “It is the policy of FINA to continue to develop the sport and we need to keep developing and creating new and challenging events.

    "We need the public to look at diving and be excited by it, and the divers to have new opportunities. This is just the start, this discipline is new and it will develop and grow.”

    Daley and Filion agreed, with Filion saying: “I think it’s very exciting, it’s great to work in a team and it’s challenging to combine the men and women who jump at different heights and rotate at different speeds.”

    The Chinese team is undoubtedly the dominant force in world diving, and achieved a clean sweep of the gold medals in the first round of the series in Beijing last weekend.

    However with 12 current World Champions in the competition, and every diver in full preparation for the 2015 World championships in July, they will be tested in every event. 

    The event runs over three days, and kicks off with the 10m platform synchro finals on Thursday 20 March from 10-12noon, followed by the opening ceremony at 5pm and 3m springboard synchro finals from 6-8pm.

    Friday’s 3m individual springboard semi-finals session runs from 10-12noon, with the finals from 5-7pm.

    The final day of competition on Saturday 22 March sees the 10m platform semi-finals from 10-12noon, followed by the finals from 5-7pm.

    Divers compete for points and prize money at each of the ten events, in the categories of 3 meter springboard and 10 meter platform in solo, synchro and mixed synchro diving.

    Tickets to catch all the action at the FINA/NVC Diving World Series will be available at the door at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Emirates Road. Tickets are 40dhs per day general entry. Entry is free for children under 12.

    Recommended