The Aquatics Universiade Venue: A Palace indeed

The exterior of the Aquatics Palace

KAZAN – The men’s 10-meter platform diving competition is truly a spectacle. Climbing three flights of stairs to the top platform, the 16 divers competing in the preliminary stages of this year’s Summer Universiade defied gravity with an array of tucks, twists and tumbles as they gracefully entered the water from the dizzying height with a minimal splash.

The mesmerizing interior of the Aquatics Palace

China’s Jun Wu qualifies with the highest score in the men’s 10m platform diving competitionChina’s Jun Wu earned the highest result of the day, scoring a total of 499.05 after six jumps to qualify for Wednesday’s semi-final, with countryman Liang Hou qualifying second with 489.60 points.

Yet during the time each of these talented divers take to climb the platform, members of the crowd seated in the high-rise stands cannot help but mesmerizingly gaze out at the magnificent wooden arches that line the bright blue walls of the glorious arena.

The Aquatics Palace, situated just before the Kazan Arena, is a state-of-the-art swimming complex, which hosts diving and synchronised swimming in this year’s Universiade as well.

The 3,500-seat arena holds a diving pool, a warm-up pool and a 50x25x3-meter main competition pool for swimming and synchronised swimming, as well as boasting a moveable floor, two warm Jacuzzis, two conference rooms, a fitness centre, bar and restaurant.

The 21,800 metre-squared facility is of the highest international standards, and one may be excused for being distracted from the plentiful action in the pool by the arena’s immaculate design.

With such facilities, along with the other 35 newly-built venues for the Summer Universiade in Kazan 2013, Russian sport will definitely be on the rise.

Fabio De Dominicis/FISU Young Reporter (RSA)