Diving World Cup in Mexico cancelled after violence surge in Jalisco

The Diving World Cup scheduled in Mexico next week was cancelled due to safety concerns on Thursday.

The meet was to take place from March 5-8 at the national diving training hub in Zapopan, near Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, where there has been a surge in violence since Sunday following the capture and death of the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera.

"A thorough risk assessment of the situation included consideration of travel restrictions and advice given by a number of international governments regarding travel to Mexico at the current time," World Aquatics said in a statement. "The safety and participation of all athletes remain a fundamental priority for World Aquatics."

Mexican sports officials were yet to comment on the cancellation.

Cartel members have burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states and authorities report at least 70 people have died. The CJNG is considered the most powerful and violent cartel in Mexico and is centred in Jalisco state.

Live coverage of the competition will be available on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem, starting Thursday at 2:30 p.m. ET with men’s 10-metre preliminaries. Coverage begins at 10 a.m., Friday through Sunday. Full streaming schedule for Montreal and upcoming events can be found here.

Even though Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said things are getting back to normal, in Guadalajara there was still fear among its citizens.

The Diving World Cup begins this week in Montreal at the Olympic Park Sports Centre, the iconic venue built for the 1976 Olympics.

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