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SINGAPORE: Singapore will field a diving team at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
The sport is set to make a splash here after lying dormant for the past one and half decade.
Trainer Orla Gilmore, a former diver, is using an unconventional method of having young gymnasts to train to be divers. And the boys and girls are literally being thrown into the deep end, as they have only slightly more than a year to take the plunge at the YOG.
Dr Gilmore said: "Particularly for the ones we are trying to get to the YOG, because of the short time scale, we needed them to come with a gymnastics background, which will assist them because their aerial awareness, their body tension and their ability to control their movements are there. Basically gymnastics gives you a fantastic base."
Seven of the 16 divers are eligible for the Youth Olympic Games. Of these, two girls and two boys will be selected to represent Singapore next year.
Diver Chloe Chan said: "I definitely hope to perform well. Orla is a good coach and the people are very supportive. When you try new things, they will support you so it gives you courage and really helps in our progress."
Diver Emily Loh said: "When my senior introduced this sport to me I thought why not, since it's pretty much related to gymnastics and it really challenged me to a greater height."
The young divers can also look forward to taking part in local and overseas competitions, and there are also plans which go beyond the Asian Youth Games (AYG) and YOG.
Jeffrey Leow, President, Singapore Swimming Association, said: "Build up a critical mass of maybe 10, 20, 30 divers and so long as there is this critical mass, there will be enough divers to sustain the sport in the long term."
A diving tower at Toa Payoh will be the actual venue for the AYG and YOG diving competition. It will be ready in early June after three months of renovations. Among the changes made are a wider diving platform and new springboards.
There will be new and brighter lights, non-slip flooring and 300 temporary seats put in place for the upcoming AYG next month. But given the short time, Singapore will not field a team for the AYG.
- CNA/yt
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