BY The Chronicle Journal,

With less than four months until the opening ceremonies, Angela Hill and her crew still have plenty of work to do before the first diver gets wet.

The meet manager for the 2008 Speedo junior diving nationals in July, Hill is excited for the event – hosted by the Thunder Bay Diving Club (TBDC) – which will be followed by the Summer Olympics in Beijing in early September.

“I think it‘s big,” said Hill. “We‘re really interested in increasing the number of divers in Thunder Bay, so when you have nationals the same year as the Olympics, it‘s great publicity for the club.”

The meet will run from July 11-14 at the Canada Games Complex with the opening ceremonies scheduled for July 10. The ceremonies, which will include Elvis impersonator Daylin James along with aboriginal dancers and drummers, will be open to the public.

Adding to allure of the meet is the prospect of members of the Olympic diving team being in attendance, handing out medals. Since Diving Canada has yet to hold their Olympic trials, who it is that will show up has yet to be announced.

“It‘s a great opportunity for those divers to see those Olympians,” Hill said. “They‘re going to see someone in July and (in September) they‘re going to be in Beijing.”

The last time Thunder Bay hosted a national diving tournament was back in 2000 when the Lakehead played host to this same junior event. The success then played a big part in the TBDC getting the nod again this year.

“It‘s a little club in the middle of nowhere that is able to pull off a good meet,” Hill beamed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------