Sheffield has entered a new era of Olympic opportunity with at least four countries extremely interested in bringing 2012 training camps in the city following the remarkable success of the World Diving Series at Ponds Forge.
The city hosted the first ever FINA World Diving Series with the world’s best divers recording the highest ever scores in the UK. The city’s facilities so impressed the competitors and international officials that four countries have registered their interest in returning to Sheffield as part of the build up to 2012.
Sheffield has already cultivated a reputation as a city of sport and the impact of the weekend’s event has thrust it further into the international spotlight.
Councillor Tim Rippon, cabinet member for economic regeneration, culture and planning said: “Sheffield already has a strong diving heritage and we’re thrilled that the countries with significant diving reputations are recognising what the city has to offer.
“Sheffield is determined to ensure its facilities and experience in events organisation are fully utilised in the build up to 2012. Events such as the diving series bring the profile of the city to the forefront through worldwide television coverage.”
The city is one of the GB High Performance Centres for Diving and is home to the largest number of British elite divers including Nick Robinson-Baker and Ben Swain who collected the bronze medal at the weekend.
The FINA World Diving Series 2007 continued in Mexico this weekend (Sept 7 and 8) before finishing in China on the weekend of September 15 and 16. And Sheffield has already secured the prestigious event which includes the world’s greatest divers for at least another two years.
Steve Brailey, chief executive of Sheffield International Venues (SIV) who manage Ponds Forge, said: “The feedback we’ve received from the event has been tremendous. The city and its facilities are already developing an international reputation for sporting excellence and helps raise it further.
“For a number of the officials attending the FINA World Series it was the first time they’ve been to Sheffield in more than a decade and they were amazed by the city’s transformation and what it had to offer.
“For the world’s best athletes to point to Sheffield and say this is where they want to train in preparation for the biggest event in the sporting calendar is fantastic for both the city and SIV.”
The city received praise from the FINA executive director on the success of the event and the way it had been handled.
More than 1,500 people at Ponds Forge witnessed the world’s elite divers battle it out in the first leg of the World Series with more than 80 competitors taking part, including the world’s top eight.
The competition unearthed a potential British Olympic gem with 13 year old Tom Daley from Plymouth impressing both the crowds and the judges, missing out on a bronze medal by just five points.
The youngster, who appeared as a replacement for the injured Olympic silver medallist Pete Waterfield, is now being tipped to perform not only at the 2012 Olympics but also at next year’s competition in Bejiing despite the fact he would be a mere 14 years old.
Fifteen countries across the globe took broadcast coverage of the event in Sheffield and the highlights will be shown on Sky Sports on September 24, 25 and 26.
The FINA World Diving Series was brought to Sheffield by Sheffield International Venues, Sheffield City Council’s Major Sports Events Team, Yorkshire South, UK Sport and Yorkshire Forward.
