High diving starts at World Championships in Barcelona

Colombia's Orlando Duque performs a dive in round 1 of the men's 27m high diving during the World Swimming Championships at Moll de la Fusta in Barcelona, July 29, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

BARCELONA - High diving made its debut at the FINA World Championships on Monday.

High diving, invented in 1973, is being held at the Moll de la Fusta, at the Port of Barcelona, and became a spectacle that citizens could enjoy as the competition is in the city center, close to the famous street of Las Ramblas.

The organizers wanted to bring the competition closer to the citizens and although the final round will be on Wednesday, Monday saw the world best athletes dive from a height of 27 meters in a provisional tower built at the Port of Barcelona.

A total of 13 men competed in the first event of the high diving competition, where Colombia's Orlando Duque and Britain's Gay Hunt were the stars.

Both high divers are favorite to win this event: the 29-year-old Hunt won the 2012 World Series, while the 38-year-old Duque has two Guiness World Records because of highest participation in World Series and highest score in a tournament, 10.

High diving will finish on July 30. A total of 13 men took part in Monday's competition while five women will compete on Tuesday diving from a height of 20 meters.

A total of 2,293 athletes from 181 countries and regions are competing at the World Championships in Barcelona that will finish on Aug 4.

Britain's Gary Hunt performs a dive in round 1 of the men's 27m high diving during the World Swimming Championships at Moll de la Fusta in Barcelona, July 29, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]