First FINA High-Diving World Cup opens in Kazan

On August 8, in Kazan, FINA President Julio Maglione, Aide to Russian President Igor Levitin, Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov, President of the Russian Diving Federation Aleksey Vlasenko and other officials took part in a solemn opening ceremony of the first FINA High Diving World Cup held in the city. The competitions will take place on  the Kazanka river embankment near the Kazan Kremlin and Palace of farmers.

The ceremony started with a parade of the participating nations. Athletes from 16 countries, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, and Russia are taking part in the competition.

Welcoming the athletes and fans, Aide to the Russian President Igor Levitin wished everyone successful competitions and expressed his confidence that in 2015 Kazan will host World Aquatics Championship at a high level. He also said that tomorrow Russia will celebrate the Sportsman’s Day for the 75th time, and congratulated all the athletes on this holiday.

Ildar Khalikov, in his turn, welcomed everyone on behalf of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and congratulated on the beginning of the competitions. He reminded that in 2013, Kazan hosted the World Summer Student Games, and more than 11,000 athletes from 160 countries participated in the competitions. In 2015, we were entrusted to host the FINA World Championships, Ildar Khalikov said. We expect more than 2,500 participants from 200 countries to come, he added.

Tatarstan Prime Minister also thanked the FINA’s leadership for choosing Kazan to hold the first ever High-Diving World Cup. He wished good luck to all the athletes and a wonderful spectacle to fans.

Julio Maglione said that today International Swimming Federation enjoys a historical moment because the High-Diving World Cup is held for the first time. According to him, these competitions can promote the upcoming FINA World Cup to be held in 2015 in Kazan. Your city is ready to host athletes at the highest level, Julio Maglione said.

He especially thanked Rustam Minnikhanov for his support and assistance in organizing the event. FINA President Julio Maglione declared the High-diving World Competitions open.

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The first High-Diving World Cup is held in Kazan on August 8-10, 2014. Men dive from a 27 meter platform, while women dive from a 20 meter platform. The competitions bring athletes from 16 countries together . Artem Silchenko, Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series winner, and Ilya Schurov, who won silver in 2012 and bronze in 2013 in European High Diving Championship represent Russia at the competitions.