The National Aquatics Center, popularly known as the "Water Cube", will again be under the limelight this week as some of the world's best divers head to Beijing for the FINA Diving World Cup from February 19-25 in a test event that will also serve as the sport's final qualifying match for the Beijing Games.
China's diving queen Guo Jingjing rests in the pool during a practice session inside the National Aquatic Center, also known as "Water Cube", Feb. 16, 2008. The "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 16th FINA Diving World Cup will kick off on Tuesday as lots of world famous divers will compete.
More than 300 athletes from 54 countries and regions are expected to compete in the qualifying event. There are 88 singles tickets available and 16 spots for synchronized pairs.
But for China, which has dominated the sport for years, the event is not about fighting for Olympic spots - it is the divers' final major test before the Olympics and the team's last chance to determine its best athletes to send to Beijing.
China will also pay special attention to any potential rivals to avoid another upset like the one they suffered in Athens 2004.
The shocking memory of Greek divers Nikolaos Siranidis and Thomas Bimis seizing the men's synchronized springboard gold medal four years ago is still singed on China's mind, as is Lao Lishi's loss to Australian Chantelle Newbery in the women's 10m platform.
"It means that every team out of the eight that will ultimately participate at the Olympics in Beijing has its own chance," said China' diving team manager Zhou Jihong.
"But first of all, those who didn't pass the qualification will have to do their best in this tournament. So it is a very good chance to observe the big opponents out there and how they perform.
"And then we will make changes on our skills or tactics according to possible emerging rivals."
Zhou also hoped China will be able to sweep all eight gold medals in this tournament, saying it could be the best way to boost the team's morale for a psychological edge.
"Almost all of the best divers come to compete with us. If our young athletes are able to beat their strongest opponents, they will get mentally stronger once they meet again in Beijing."
The biggest challenges will likely occur in the men's and women's 10m platform events. It was in those events that Russia's Gleb Galperin outclassed China's Lin Yue and Zhou Luxin to win last year's world championship in Melbourne.
"Galperin does not have the higher difficulty over our two divers. But he is able to play his best in big tournaments. He scored full points in two dives in the last World Championships and beat us. So we should be highly alert of him," Zhou said.
Galperin will be joined by Canadian Alexandre Despatie, who won world titles in 2003 and 2005.
The veteran Despatie has struggled with injury over the past three years but still managed to defeat Lin and Zhou in one of last year's FINA Diving Grand Prix series.
Lin and Zhou should also pay attention to emerging American Thomas Finchum, who also has a winning record against them.
Women's 10m platform seems more vulnerable for China as the team lost gold medals in the event in both of the past two Games.
Though, emerging stars Wang Xin and Chen Ruolin performed impressively post-Athens, long-time challengers like American Laura Wilkinson and Canadian Emilie Heymans are still in good form and will be difficult competition for China this summer.
Women's springboard is far less suspenseful as "diving queen" Guo Jingjing and her synchronized partner Wu Minxia's are overwhelming forces in their event. Their presence will be more of a demonstration for spectators rather than a competition.
(China Daily February 19, 2008)
