The former athlete will act as the chief coach for 24 boys from all over China. The boys will form two teams and compete against each other in 28 events that mimic the events at the Olympics.

The 27-year-old diving star will also play the lead role in a related TV drama series.

The TV deal is Tian Liang's second foray into the entertainment industry since he retired from diving a month ago. He shot a video to promote Hunan TV's reality singing competition "Happy Boys" in early April.

Tian Liang comes from northwest China's Shaanxi province. He joined the national diving team in 1993 and went on to win gold in the men's 10-meter platform event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He won a gold medal in the 10m synchronized platform event plus a bronze medal in the individual event at the Athens Games four years later.