12% Rise in Athlete Entries at the 2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships

A total of 54 nations will be represented this year at the 2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium from 20 to 23 July. Rowers will be travelling from as far as Japan and New Zealand for a chance to race in this year’s event.

Participation is booming with 784 competitors, a 12% increase (compared to 700 in 2005), racing in 293 crews in 20 boat classes. The highest number of entries comes in the lightweight men’s single sculls where 24 contestants will battle it out to achieve World Champion status. The most represented country this year is Germany with 65 athletes entered in each of the 20 events.

Formerly known as the Nation's Cup and the Match des Seniors, this is only the second year that the Under 23 regatta has “World Rowing Championship” status. The event acts as a stepping stone for athletes on their way to elite status who have advanced from junior status, but are still developing their skills. Many of these young athletes have already taken part in several Rowing World Cup events this season.

The event this year will have a very high turnout from developing nations taking part thanks to support from the FISA Development Programme. Participants from Algeria, Togo, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Peru, El Salvador and Armenia will be competing. Many of the athletes present were identified through FISA’s talent Identification training camps in Tunisia and South Africa earlier this year. For many, like Togolese single sculler Pitakani Denise Tango or Peterlis Osiany and James Okello from the Kenyan lightweight men’s double scull, this is the first ever participation at the world level.

“Many of these athletes may be looking at this as a first step towards qualification for the Olympic Games next year” says Sheila Stephens Desbans, FISA’s Development Manager, “this is their first chance to measure their progress at the world level.”

The World Rowing Under 23 Championships regatta in Hazewinkel (near Mechelen), Belgium begins on Thursday 20 July and will go on for four days. The A Finals will be raced on Sunday 23 July. Entries, timetable, full reports, live audio streaming, live results and features are available on www.worldrowing.com .

Media contact FISA: Marion Gallimore Tel: +41.21.617.83.73 or direct +41 21 612 02 26 E-mail: marion.gallimore@fisa.org.