Boston Architecture Provides Stage for Global Diving Competition

BOSTON, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series announced that the sixth stop of its global tour will port in Boston Harbor at Fan Pier on August 20.  Rather than natural cliffs, the divers will use the cantilever roof of the Institute of Contemporary Art building on Fan Pier as their diving platform which soars 80 feet above the water's edge.  The Boston leg of the tour will be the Series' first-ever east coast stop in the United States, and for the first time in the competition's three year history, two-time Olympic Gold medalist Greg Louganis offers his expertise as one of five judges on the tour.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110525/LA08894)

Cliff diving is the acrobatic perfection of diving into water from great heights, and the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is the most prominent competitive platform for the sport. Eleven divers from nine countries who are between the ages of 25 and 46 will compete in seven events in 2011.

The Institute of Contemporary Art building has become one of Boston's most recognized architectural landmarks, which is why it was chosen as a venue on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series tour. Within its 65,000 square feet, the museum presents outstanding contemporary art in all media, including visual art exhibitions, music, film, video and performances.  Visitors to the Red Bull Cliff Diving event can also experience the ICA's exciting summer exhibitions, The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl and Catherine Opie: Empty and Full. For more information about the ICA and these exhibitions, visit icaboston.org.

"We are very excited to host the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at the ICA," said Paul Bessire, Deputy Director for External Relations at the ICA.  "The ICA's innovative architecture and exhibitions and its location on Boston's stunning waterfront make it the perfect spot for this international event."

Red Bull Cliff Diving competitions are judged by five international jurors with scores awarded according to the degree of difficulty and the execution of the dive. The day before the competition, divers hand in four planned dives of which two are required by the judges and two are of the diver's choosing. A qualification round on day one determines who of the 11 divers will compete for six spots in the final round which takes place on the second day. The goal for each diver is to secure the World Champion title after the final stop by scoring the most points throughout the season.

After two stops so far this year in Rapa Nui, Chile (Easter Island) and Yucatan, Mexico, the competition heads east to Athens, Greece this weekend where the Olympian mindset will be omnipresent especially amongst competition points leaders Gary Hunt (GBR) and Slava Polyeshchuk (UKR).  The tour will continue to France and Italy before arriving in Boston with the final stop in 2011 taking place in the Ukraine.

The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop in Boston will be free and open to the public on August 20 and take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Public areas will be located along Fan Pier, and spectators will experience the competition through jumbo screens, a live emcee and premium vending.  The Institute of Contemporary Art will remain open to the public throughout the event.

Hi-res video and still images from the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series are captured and made immediately available for editorial use for all media channels including television, film, print, mobile, and digital. The content is centrally located in the Red Bull Content Pool and easily downloadable for media partners at www.redbullcliffdivingnewsroom.com.

About the ICA

An influential forum for multi-disciplinary arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art has been at the leading edge of art in Boston for more than 70 years. Like its iconic building on Boston's waterfront, the ICA offers new ways of engaging with the world around us. Its exhibitions and programs provide access to contemporary art, artists, and the creative process, inviting audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the excitement of new art and ideas. The ICA, located at 100 Northern Avenue, is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 am - 5 pm; Thursday and Friday, 10 am - 9 pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. Admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors and students, and free for members and children 17 and under. ICA Free Admission for Youth is sponsored by State Street Foundation. Free admission on Target Free Thursday Nights, 5 - 9 pm. Free admission for families at ICA Play Dates (2 adults + children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of the month. For more information, call 617-478-3100 or visit our Web site at www.icaboston.org.

SOURCE Red Bull