Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Diving

By Steven Oldham

Despite only being an optional sport at the Commonwealths, diving has appeared at every edition of the Games since the first British Empire Games in 1930.

Both men and women will compete in a range of events, from the 1m springboard to the synchronised 10m platform pairs.

One of the most visually spectacular sports on show at the Commonwealths, diving continues to grow in popularity in Great Britain, demonstrated by the 15.9m people who tuned in to watch Tom Daley win bronze at London 2012.

WHEN?

The diving happens from July 30-August 2 and medals will be decided on every day of competition, with the men's 1m springboard the first gold medal handed out.

WHERE?

Glasgow is not hosting the diving - instead the athletes will head to the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, which has previous experience hosting the Games - both in 1970 and 1986. It's been updated and renovated and brought up to the standard where it can host world-class events.

WHO?

Three countries have traditionally dominated Commonwealth diving - Australia, Canada and England. Canada topped the table last time out with five gold medals, but three of these were won by the now retired Alexandre Despatie - will the younger divers continue the Canadians' fine pedigree in diving?

They will be boosted by Jennifer Abel once again competing - she won the other two golds in Delhi, in both singles and synchro competitions.  10m synchro pair Roseline Fitton and Meaghan Benefito will also be looking to add to their Commonwealth medal collection, after taking bronze in Melbourne eight years ago.

Olympic champion and four time Commonwealth silver medallist Matthew Mitcham leads the Australian contingent in Edinburgh this summer. 10m synchro champion Melissa Wu also returns, with 15-year-old Georgia Sheehan making her senior team debut.

To say England are a one-man team is wrong, there is real strength in depth. Double Commonwealth champion Daley does return and is likely to be one of the stars of the Games again, but the English will be disappointed if they don't improve on the two medals they won in Delhi.

Chris Mears and Jack Laugher head in to the tournament as the leading Commonwealth pairing in the 3m synchro having placed fifth in the World Cup in Shanghai, with Laugher also taking individual bronze in the same event.

Tonia Couch and Sarah Barrow are also expected to do well in the 10m synchro, but face tough competition from Australia, Canada and Malaysia's pairs, who all finished ahead of the English pair in Shanghai earlier this week.

Yona Knight-Wisdom is also set to become Jamaica's first ever diver to compete at the Games.

LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• Dives are taken from one of three heights - 1m or 3m on the springboard, or 10m on the platform
• The single events feature qualifiers with the top 12 advancing to the final. The synchro events are just finals.
• Points are earned for two elements of a dive - the execution and the difficulty of the dive. A panel of judges hand out the marks.
• Style is important - every diver is aiming for the coveted 'rip entry' into the water - with minimal splash. Belly flops are not cool.
• Zimbabwe, no longer a Commonwealth member, were the last country other than the big three and Malaysia to medal at the Games - way back in 1998 when Evan Stewart won gold in the 1m springboard.

CAN I STILL BUY TICKETS?

Sadly not. For the latest on which  tickets are left - including badminton and weightlifting - see here

Can England's Jack Laugher repeat his World Cup medal success?
(zimbio.com)

Loss of Edinburgh derby will hurt Scottish top tier as Hibs and Hearts go down

By Steven Oldham

Hamilton Academical beat Hibernian 4-3 on penalties this afternoon in the relegation/promotion play-off to secure the last place in next season's top flight.

After recovering from a 2-0 first leg defeat, Accies beat their opponents by the same scoreline today to take the tie to extra time, with no deadlock being found leading to the dreaded penalty shootout.


Hibs' short-lived joy as they win first leg 2-0. (@HibernianFCClub)


With Hearts already long gone, the top flight will be without a club from the capital next year and as such the Edinburgh derby is relegated to the second tier.

Whilst bad for the clubs, it is perhaps even worse for the Scottish Premiership, which loses two of its best attended clubs.  Only Celtic saw more fans through their turnstiles than Hearts this year and Hibs were a clear fourth in the attendance table this year with Aberdeen sandwiched in third place.

A league still struggling without Rangers, clubs in the Premiership must be even more concerned about yet another drop in gate revenue.  While attendances at Dundee and Hamilton will surely rise thanks to their promotion, their combined gates will not even match those of Hibs, never mind Hearts.

Five clubs had an average of less than 5,000 through their gates per game this season.  Next year it is likely to be seven.  For more than half of the Scotland's top flight clubs to fail to break this mark is both disappointing and worrying given the country's passion for the sport and history in the game.

Next year's Championship is looking intriguing to say the least - Hearts and Hibs will be looking to put this season's woes behind them with an instant return.

But it won't be as simple as a straight fit between the two for the Championship title.  Rangers will be looking to win a third successive promotion, and beaten play-off contenders Falkirk will want to at least match their third place finish if possible.  Recent experience of this level may help them surprise their more illustrious rivals.

Hibernian boss Terry Butcher wants to stay but admits his future is out of his hands.  His side's capitulation in their most important game of the season today is unlikely to go in his favour.  Nor will the angry reaction of fans following the game.  Hibs will prepare for life outside the top flight for the first time since 1999.

Hearts meanwhile need to regroup now their future has been secured with a change of ownership.  Stability will hopefully return under new chairwoman Ann Budge and much depends on the success of the relationship between the returning Craig Levein in the director of football role and new head coach, and former Hearts player, Robbie Neilson.

Scotland's capital will not have a team in the top tier next season. The sooner this is remedied, the better for all involved.