Today (15 May) marks the 10 day countdown to the FINA Diving World Series when the British squad will be under the spotlight against some of the world’s top ranked divers.

Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre hosts the prestigious event from the 24th – 25th May as some of the world’s finest divers descend on the city as the sport gathers momentum towards the Beijing Olympics.

The event is the second of three two-day meets over consecutive weekends and spectators can expect to watch a strong field of athletes that includes Olympic and world champions.

Divers from China, Russia, Canada and the U.S will join a selection of British athletes to compete in the highest quality field seen in Britain for a number of years.

As well as giving British divers the chance to compete in a world-class event on home soil, the FINA Diving World Series provides a unique opportunity for British Swimming staff and volunteers to gain valuable experience of hosting international event in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics in under five years’ time.

-ENDS-

The FINA Diving World Series (Sheffield) takes place at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre on 24th and 25th May 2008.

Ben Swain (City of Sheffield)
Nicholas Robinson-Baker (City of Sheffield)
Thomas Daley (Plymouth Diving)
Peter Waterfield (Southampton Diving)
Blake Aldridge (Southampton Diving)
Jodie McGroarty (City of Sheffield)
Tandi Gerrard (City of Leeds)
Hayley Sage (City of Sheffield)
Stacie Powell (Southampton Diving)
Sarah Barrow (Plymouth Diving)
Monique McCarroll (Southampton Diving)

Staging of the FINA Diving World Series involves funding partners: UK Sport, British Swimming, Sheffield City Council, Yorkshire South and Sheffield International Venues - Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

For further details contact British Swimming Media Assistant Gemma Field on 01509 632262, 07917 726431 or email gemma.field@swimmng.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

UK Sport works in partnership with national governing bodies and distributes National Lottery funding each year through the World Class Events Programme to support their bidding and staging costs, as well as providing specialist technical support. Since 1997, UK Sport has supported more than 80 events of World, European and Commonwealth status
www.uksport.gov.uk

Sheffield City Council's Major Sports Events Unit have attracted this event to the City and work with other major sports events owners to attract national and international events to the city - on average more than 30 each year.

Sheffield is committed to hosting a full programme of sports events throughout the year and it is the sheer number and diversity of events that underpins Sheffield as an events capital.  The City's programme enhances Sheffield's image on the national and international stage, in addition to providing huge economic benefit to the city.

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