Goodwill Games

03/16/2001

Divers Prepare for Goodwill Games Showdown

$137,000(USD) Prize Purse

The top diving teams in the world from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States have confirmed they will compete at the 2001 Goodwill Games in September.

The divers will compete for a total prize purse of $137,000 (USD).

The competition will run over three days from September 7 - 9 at the Chandler Aquatic Centre, part of the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane.

Goodwill Games Inc President Michael Plant, who made the announcement in the United States, was looking forward to the event.

``Diving has been an integral part of the Goodwill Games since 1986 and we are proud of our history with the sport,'' Mr Plant said.

``We have showcased many of the world's greatest divers, from seasoned veterans to those participating in a multi-sport competition for the first time and we look forward to watching the top divers compete again this year.''

2001 Goodwill Games Ambassador Dean Pullar, who won bronze in synchronised diving at the Sydney Olympics and competed at the last Goodwill Games in New York in 1998, is keen to prove his worth again during the 2001 Goodwill Games.

``I'm excited to get another chance to go up against the best the world has to offer,'' Mr Pullar said.

``I'm aiming to compete in the 2001 Goodwill Games - not only will it be in front of an Australian crowd, but in the pool that I have trained in for many years.''

Pullar and other top Australian divers will be vying for Goodwill Games selection at the Australian Championships in Perth next month.

International stars confirmed to compete in the Games include Laura Wilkinson (USA), the 1998 Goodwill Games champion and 2000 Olympic gold medallist in 10m Platform diving.

Other elite divers confirmed to participate in the diving competition are Olympic silver medallist, Fernando Platas (Mexico), Olympic 3m springboard bronze medallist, Dorte Linder (Germany), Anna Lindberg (Sweden) and Alexandre Despatie (Canada).

Ms Wilkinson said she was looking forward to competing in Brisbane.

``I am thrilled to be participating in this year's Goodwill Games,'' Ms Wilkinson said.

``The 2001 Goodwill Games will be my first international competition since the Olympics, which will make the experience even more exciting. Capturing first place in the 1998 Goodwill Games was a huge milestone in my career so I am really looking forward to competing this year. ''

2001 Goodwill Games Chief Executive Campbell Rose was pleased with the high standard of competition such athletes would bring to the Games.

``Not only will spectators be able to catch the best divers in the world, but their adrenaline will be kept pumping with an exciting entertainment program running in conjunction with the sporting action,'' Mr Rose said.

``We hope this will add to the already vibrant atmosphere in the Chandler Aquatic Centre, generated by the presence of such a dominant, world-class diving field, competing in Brisbane.''

The competition will consist of ten events: 1m Springboard (m/w), 3m Springboard (m/w), 10m Platform (m/w), 3m Synchronised (m/w) and the 10m Synchronised (m/w).

Between eight and 12 divers will each participate in the 1m, 3m and 10m events, and six pairs will take part in the 3m and 10m synchronised events.

The prize purse will be divided amongst the 12 places in the men and women's individual events and the six places in the men and women's synchronised events, with first-place victors receiving the largest sum and the remainder of the prize purse being divided according to placement.

The 2001 Goodwill Games will run from August 29 to September 9, and will feature 1300 of the most elite athletes in 14 action-packed sports, including athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, surf lifesaving, swimming, trampoline, triathlon and weightlifting.

In addition to the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, plans have begun for the 2005 Winter Goodwill Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. TNT is the host network for both events.

The Nine Network will broadcast the 2001 Goodwill Games in Australia, while Turner Network Television will broadcast the event internationally.

Goodwill Games, Inc. is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production unit of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Media information:
Nikki Todd, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane
Ph: 07 3233 2045 (direct) / Mobile: 0408 011 204

Mary Godden, CEO Diving Australia
Ph: 07 3823 1444

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