USA Diving Team begins countdown to Olympic Trials at King County Aquatic Center

Some of the world's top divers will appear at the Weyerhauser-King County Aquatic Center on Friday to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Dive Trials, set for June 17-24 at King County Parks' world-class swimming and diving facility in Federal Way.

Some of the world’s top divers will appear at the Weyerhauser-King County Aquatic Center on Friday to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Dive Trials, set for June 17-24 at King County Parks’ world-class swimming and diving facility in Federal Way.

The Seattle Sports Commission and USA Diving, the national governing body of diving in the United States, will visit the King County Aquatic Center on Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature athletes from USA Diving, who will play host to an open practice for the 2012 Trials.

At noon, Linda Paul, President and CEO of USA Diving, will introduce the divers, followed by an opportunity for interviews.

More than 100 of the country’s best divers will compete for a spot on the United States Olympic Diving Team to represent the U.S. in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Trials include men’s and women’s individual events in three- and 10-meter competitions, plus men’s and women’s synchronized events in three- and 10-meter competitions.

Constructed to host events for the 1990 Goodwill Games, the WKCAC is the home of more than 50 swim and dive competitions annually, including collegiate, national and international competitions. It last hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Diving Trials in 2000.

NBC owns broadcast rights for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

“As a region, we are thrilled to participate in the Olympic movement as our athletes prepare for London,” said Ralph Morton, executive director for the Seattle Sports Commission.