"Despatie's withdrawal from 10-metre event won't help sell tickets for summer event"

Pat Hickey

I walked past the water cooler yesterday and was surprised to find two guys actually talking about the World Aquatic Championships, which will be held in Montreal this summer.

I thought that's what happens when there's no baseball or hockey, but I quickly realized these were Montreal property owners worried that the special Olympic Stadium tax will be replaced by the special World Aquatic Pools tax.

There was good news last month when American swimmer Michael Phelps came out of a semi-retirement and qualified for eight events in Montreal. But there was bad news yesterday when Alexandre Despatie announeed he would not defend his 10-metre tower-diving titre. It seems the Laval diver injured his back during the Canadian championships and will limit himself to the three-metre event. The two-week meet is woefully short of athletes with local ties, and Despatie's decision won't help anemic ticket sales for the event.

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