The 2026 World Aquatics Diving World Cup Finals concluded on the evening of May 3 at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the “Water Cube,” with China’s diving team winning all nine gold medals on offer. This marks the second consecutive year that the event has been held at the iconic Beijing venue, which has earned widespread praise from participating athletes for its world-class facilities and atmosphere.
International athletes expressed their admiration for the “Water Cube,” the dual-Olympic venue. The event’s sports presentation team also provided personalized music services for competitors, which were well-received.
**’Dream Team’ Dominates, Global Stars Hail ‘Water Cube’**
On the final day of competition, Chinese diver Chen Jia claimed the women’s 3-meter springboard title, while Bai Yuming secured the men’s 10-meter platform gold. Once again, the “Water Cube” witnessed the Chinese diving team’s complete sweep of all nine gold medals.
This year’s finals brought together 91 athletes from 16 countries and regions. For many, competing at the historic “Water Cube” was a dream come true. American diver Ellie Reese-Nydai, who finished fourth in the women’s 10-meter platform, said, “Coming here to compete has been a long-time dream of mine. It feels fantastic to have that dream come true.”
Colombia’s Alejandro Belmudez, competing at the “Water Cube” for the second time, was eliminated in the men’s 3-meter springboard semifinals. He commented, “Everything is just as great as before—the venue, the pool, the crowd. It’s just that my performance wasn’t up to par.”
Australian diver Maddison Keeney, a silver medalist in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard, has visited the “Water Cube” multiple times. “This is my sixth or seventh time here, and each time I feel I’ve performed better than before,” she said. “The ‘Water Cube’ is an iconic venue. I’m happy to be back, and outside the pool, Beijing’s rich culture makes everyone enjoy competing here.”
The event coincided with China’s May Day holiday, allowing athletes to explore Beijing’s tourist attractions. Canadian diver Caitlyn Fung noted, “The ‘Water Cube’ is beautiful, the crowd is enthusiastic, and the pool is excellent. We all love competing here.” She also visited the Great Wall shortly after arriving. “It’s breathtaking. It’s amazing that it was built entirely by human labor,” she added. Her teammate, Kate Miller, also praised Chinese architecture for its elegant simplicity.
**Innovative Sports Presentation, Personalized Services Steal the Show**
As a highlight of Beijing’s “Dual-Olympic 100” premium sports events, this year’s Diving World Cup Finals featured an upgraded and impressive sports presentation.
The opening ceremony combined intangible cultural heritage, traditional Peking Opera, and humanoid robot performances, all set against the backdrop of Beijing’s central axis culture. The fusion of ancient charm and modern technology, enhanced by sound, light, electricity, and AR effects, created an extraordinary atmosphere for athletes.
The sports presentation team designed customized light shows for each event, introduced interactive AR features that displayed audience avatars in real-time, and added screens with cloisonné-style designs in the athlete entry area. Each athlete was also given a personalized Chinese-style entry animation, which amazed them during the filming sessions.
Music, a key element in building atmosphere, was carefully curated for the event. The light shows were accompanied by Chinese-inspired music, blending traditional folk tunes with pop music to enhance the immersive experience. Meanwhile, the team prepared a rich playlist for athletes, with different music played after each dive. During the men’s 3-meter springboard event, Chinese divers Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan were treated to tracks like “Cloud Palace Symphony” and “I Believe So,” alongside cheerful folk melodies.
In selecting the music, the sports presentation team studied the cultural backgrounds and trends of each athlete’s home country, referenced their personal preferences, and even discussed options directly with them during training. This personalized service was widely appreciated. “Many athletes are visiting Beijing for the first time and were thrilled by the warm hospitality and the thoughtful touches in the music and customized animations,” said Liu Yuwen, the team’s director.
