U.S., Soviet Divers to Compete in Dual Meet at USC May 3-4

As part of an accord between athletic governing bodies from the United States and the Soviet Union, the USSR will send a team of elite divers to compete against U.S. elite divers May 3-4 at the Olympic Swim Stadium at USC.

It will be the first time since 1979 that U.S. and Soviet divers have met in a dual meet.

In the aftermath of 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympic boycotts that strained relations between the two countries’ athletic federations, the United States Olympic Committee and the Soviet National Olympic Committee signed an agreement last year that committed them to increased exchanges in sports.

Earlier this year, Soviet boxers and wrestlers competed in dual meets in the United States. Soviet boxers will return for another series of dual meets in August.

Soviet gymnasts will compete against U.S. gymnasts in the McDonald’s Challenge at Boston April 26-27 before appearing in exhibitions at New Haven, Conn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Long Island, N.Y.

In addition to the competition in Los Angeles, divers from the two countries will participate in another dual meet May 9-11 at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“This meet is very important to the agreement (with the Soviet Union),” said USOC President Robert Helmick, who was in Los Angeles for the USOC House of Delegates meeting.

“The agreement is important, but it doesn’t mean anything unless it is followed through with events like this.”

There will be competition for men and women from the 3-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform. The U.S. team will be selected after the National Indoor meet April 16-20 at Indianapolis.