ITALY: Divers plunge into River Tiber in traditional New Year celebration

The traditional Tiber Dive in Rome on Monday (January 1) had a bit of an international theme as local Italian divers were joined by Colombian-born former World High Diving champion Orlando Duque. The Italian divers really showed what they were made of, ditching their bathrobes at the last minute and launching themselves from the 30-metre Cavour Bridge in central Rome, bare-chested. Duque, who lives in Hawaii and is famous for his twisting cliff dives in warm resorts such as Acapulco, took the more comfortable route of dressing in a full body wet suit as he dived in front of a group of warmly wrapped up spectators . Grey-haired Giuseppi Palmulli was back again this year despite announcing last year had been his last dive into the Tiber's notoriously dirty waters. But his wish of keeping the tradition alive certainly paid off with seven divers, more than double the number in 2006, braving the muddy river. 'I want to give a big to kiss to everyone, happy New Year' said Italian diver Aldo Corrieri, another veteran diver who has kept the tradition for more than thirty years. Duque seemed to be enjoying the waters of the Tiber, despite the cold. 'We are just here celebrating the New Year, keeping up the tradition of jumping from Cavour Bridge - what a better way to bring in the New Year than diving' he said.

ITN Source | January 2, 2007

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