The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona left several images engraved in our memories. One of them was certainly a diver with the Sagrada Familia in the background. This scene will be repeated nearly eleven years later, thanks to the 10th FINA World Swimming Championships.

The prospect of having one of the best possible settings for this type of competition is combined with the fact that the programme includes events never before seen by Olympic Games spectators: 3 and 10-metre synchronized diving, and diving from 1-metre high springboards.

The Montjuīc Municipal Swimming Pool, located on the mountain of the same name, will allow spectators from all over the world to see one of most spectacular panoramic views in the city whilst they enjoy watching the best of today's divers.

      - Characteristics
      - What it looks like
      - How to get here

Characteristics

In order for the divers to repeat the success of more than a decade ago, the facility has been remodelled and adapted to all the technical requisites demanded by FINA for this competition.

The platforms and springboards on Montjuīc will still maintain the same size they had in 1992. However, synchronized diving, which made its debut in Sydney in 2000, has made adaptation necessary. This event requires enough width for two divers to jump into the water simultaneously from the same spot, which has meant adding 25 extra centimetres to each side of the platform.

Furthermore, the paving of the pool shore has been reconditioned, and the water collector system has been improved.

The competition pool includes:

• 3 x 1 m springboards
• 1 x 1 m platform
• 3 x 3 m springboards
• 1 x 3 m platform
• 1 x 5 m platform
• 1 x 7.5 m platform
• 1 x 10 m platform (3 metres wide)

The warm-up area (gymnasium) includes:

• 1 Eurotramp elastic bed with a safety system
• 1 one-metre dry trampoline

What it looks like

The beauty of the municipal pool on Montjuīc, the venue of the competition, makes many decorative elements unnecessary. The most decorated part will be the faįade located opposite the trampolines and platforms; a series of flags from different countries and from the International Swimming Federation will make up a vivid kaleidoscope of colours. The rest of the facility will be decorated by a silk-screened fitted carpet with different background colours.

Yellow, as a metaphor for the flights of mythological figures towards the sun, is the colour that identifies diving.

There will also be a 250-seat grandstand right in front of the spectators' grandstand, which is reserved exclusively for the divers.

How to get here      

By public transportation: Bus: Lines 50 and 61 Metro: Lines 1 and 3, to Plaįa d'Espanya. You must then take the escalator located on Avinguda de Maria Cristina, which takes about 7 minutes. The Montjuīc Funicular. Taxi. By private transportation: Access via Carrer de Tarragona, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes or Avinguda del Paralˇlel. Parking in the area adjoining the venue.