FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 23

Yesterday's competition was the longest one yet. With 46 divers entered in the men’s 3-meter preliminaries, that event alone took about four hours, which is a long time to sit for those us watching from the stands. How to pass the time with a few breaks here and there?

Ariel and Haley brought their homework with them. The two teenagers, along with four other World Championships teammates, are home-schooled. Ariel did math, and Haley studied some geography.

Kelci and David got a game of Family Guy Uno going, and a few others wandered over to the souvenir stand. Laura wrote some postcards to her family.

And everyone did their best to stay cool. It’s very humid here. Thursday it got up to the equivalent of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and inside the pool seems just as hot and humid.

Temperatures are going to hit the 80s again today, but it’s supposed to cool off over the weekend. Saturday’s high is 66. More importantly, there’s a 40 percent chance of rain tonight and 80 percent tomorrow. They’re in the midst of a serious, multi-year drought here. It barely sprinkled for a short time the other day, and one of the volunteers told me that was the most rain she’d seen in awhile.

Following the World Championships, the water used to fill the temporary pools over at the swimming venue will be treated and reused throughout the city. A lot of the water will go toward the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, which I read has had to cut water consumption by 30 percent since 2001. I had a chance to walk through the Gardens for about an hour on Thursday, and they were beautiful (see photos). The water from the temporary pools will be going to a great cause.

- Jen Lowery