Diving is not considered to be a separate sport by its organising body, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). FINA governs four forms, or disciplines, of aquatic competition - swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo. Usually the diving results are listed with those from the swimming events.

Diving was popularised by the Swedes and the Germans in the 18th and 19th centuries. It grew up out of the gymnastics principles developed in those nations. The first known book on diving was published in Germany in 1843. Competitive diving began in Britain in the 1880s. In the late 19th century a group of Swedish divers visited Great Britain and gave numerous exhibitions, which stimulated the formation of the first diving organisation, the Amateur Diving Association, in 1901.

(BOCOG)

Preview for Team China

Having won 20 gold medals in six Olympic Games, the Chinese diving regiment vows to bag eight gold medals during fierce competitions at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The women's team are led by Guo Jingjing, the champion at the Athens Olympics in 2004, who is highly expected to pocket a gold at this summer Games. Wu Minxia, the silver holder of the Athens Games, is also included.

World champions Qin Kai and He Chong are included in the men's 3m springboard.

Chen Ruolin and Wang Xin, both sixteen years of age, and gold holders at this year's World Cup and last year's World Championships respectively, are highly expected to perform in the women's 10m platform.

Having participated in the world championships, both Zhou Lvxin and Lin Yue are equipped with the strength to grab medals.

China will also have participants in each of the synchronized diving events. Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia, gold medallist in the Athens Olympics are queens of the women's 3m synchronized springboard; Wang Feng and Qin Kai will be competing in the men's 3m synchronized springboard; Chen Ruolin and Wang Xin are a competitive pair; and Lin Yue and Huo Liang are set for the men's 10m platform contest.

The Chinese national diving team leader Zhou Jihong said that her team feels crises amid the Beijing Olympics. "There are four or five strong opponents, especially from Australia, Mexico and Canada, in each event, for our teams," she added.

The diving team, before coming to Olympic Village in Beijing, had been training at its base in Jinan, capital city of east China's Shandong Province.

(Source: Xinhua)