BUDAPEST, July 4 (Xinhua) -- World Aquatics announced on Friday that China's Zhaoqing will host the third and final stop of the 2026 High Diving World Cup from November 21 to 22, marking the first time the series has expanded to three events.
The governing body signed an agreement with the China Swimming Association to stage the competition in the southern Chinese city, which opened the world's first permanent high diving facility in 2018 and hosted the 2019 High Diving World Cup.
The 2026 series started in Fort Lauderdale, the United States, in May and will continue in Porto Flavia, Italy, before concluding in Zhaoqing.
World Aquatics said the expanded calendar would take the High Diving World Cup to three continents for the first time, helping promote the sport and create more opportunities for athletes, particularly in Asia.
A new High Diving World Cup Trophy will also be introduced, with the overall men's and women's champions determined across the three stops.
World Aquatics vice president and China Swimming Association president Zhou Jihong said the return of the World Cup to Zhaoqing reflected confidence in the city's world-class venue and would bring the sport's top athletes back to China.
High diving has been part of the World Aquatics Championships since 2013 and will feature again at the 2027 World Championships in Budapest. ■
