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Windsor will make a splash around the world next year when future stars, Olympic champions, and thousands of spectators flood into downtown for the World Cup of diving.
The World Aquatics Diving World Cup, which will be broadcast across the globe, is coming to the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre in April.
“We’ll see Olympic champions here, world champions here,” said Jeff Feeney, senior director of business development for Diving Plongeon Canada.
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“We’ll also see the up-and-comers looking to become those big divers for the LA games here,” he said, referring to the next Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles.
Feeney, Mayor Drew Dilkens, and Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, made the announcement Wednesday during a poolside media conference at the aquatic centre. Hosted by Diving Plongeon Canada, the event will run from April 10 to 13.
“It will be the best divers in the world, 100 of them from 15 different countries broadcast around the world on stations like CBC and NBC and Eurovision,” said Dilkens. “It’s going to be big.”
The announcement comes after some behind-the-scenes shakeups. Montreal was originally scheduled to host the World Cup, but the city’s Olympic Park is under repair after a massive fire in March.
“It’s really a case of their facility not being ready, and Windsor having open doors and ready to seize an opportunity,” said Feeney.
“We know there are going to be some differences in the event. This is going to be a much more intimate atmosphere. If you were here for the trials when we had 1,200 school kids here, you had to wear ear muffs.
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“It was something special. It’s going to be different, but different in a Windsor way, and excellent in a Windsor way.”
Windsor was supposed to host the Canada Cup of diving next year, but has substituted it for the World Cup. The city is still on track to host the 2026 Canada Cup.
Feeney said Diving Plongeon Canada officials have been in Windsor for the last several days. The organization has already hosted other events in Windsor, including Canada’s Olympic diving trials last year.
“It’s kind of hard to hold a secret in like this,” said Feeney. “We feel like we’re coming home every time we come to Windsor.”
He said Windsor’s world-class facility keeps his organization coming back. But there’s also more to it than a nice pool.
“What truly brings us back here is the people, the club,” said Feeney. “They are huge supports. The city itself.“
Dilkens said the event will mean “big exposure” for the city and the aquatic centre.
“It’s going to be a busy weekend,” he said. “This is the type of event that will draw people to the City of Windsor. It’s great for the locals who live here to be able to come out and see this event in their backyard.
“But people will travel here to watch this event in person because it’s that big.”
Orr said sport tourism drives a lot of “overnight business,” so hotels and restaurants should be busy. He said projections suggest the event will translate into direct spending in Windsor-Essex of more than $1.5 million.
“It’s a very positive injection of not only economic benefit, but of civic pride,” said Orr.
“When an event like this comes, it certainly helps generate a lot of economic benefit and it helps raise our profile. As you heard, the world will be watching.”
The city details about schedules and tickets will be released in the next few weeks.
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