KAZAN, Russia — It makes no sense that the International Olympic Committee voted Beijing, a city devoid of snow, to be a Winter Games host but has resisted inviting high diving into the Summer Olympics. The men’s high diving event on Wednesday at the FINA world championships, won by Britain’s Gary Hunt, was more entertaining than puppy videos on YouTube.
How is it possible to reject a sport in which the athletes are constantly turning their tattoo-covered backs on spiffy judges dressed in white pants, button-down shirts, ties and blue jackets, even if it’s only to set up for an inward dive?