1956 Olympic Reunion Planned for 2002 World Masters Games

The 2002 World Masters Games will be held in Melbourne, Australia from October 5 to 13 with the rowing events taking place at Ballarat, just outside of Melbourne, where the 1956 Olympic rowing took place.

The City of Ballarat has invited the rowers who competed there in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics to a reunion that will coincide with the rowing at the World Masters Games with a welcome on October 8.  There will be a row on the course for those who are interested, and a dinner in their honour as the guests of the city. 

The men’s eight race at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia

Invitations were sent out through the Olympic Councils or equivalent in each of the countries that participated.   A very good response has been received, with several complete or near complete crews returning after a gap of 46 years.  Some are still rowing and will compete in the Games.

For the 2002 World Masters Games the rowing organizers have developed a program based on the FISA masters event time table (with some minor modifications), but with the formal program spread over four days instead of two to allow for heats, repechages and semis where required in each event.  Finals will be held in the afternoons, with heats etc earlier in the same day. 

The World Masters Games is a major event, with more than 30,000 athletes competing in 16 sports expected in Melbourne.  Rowing is one of the major sports and a large entry is expected.   More than 3000 rowers are expected for the rowing event.

The rowing course at Ballarat is on Lake Wendouree in parklands close to the centre of the city.  The Olympic course has been widened to 8 lanes and upgraded with the equipment and facilities expected of modern high quality course.  Boat hire is available, (but restricted to international crews to ensure high quality boats are available for them).

Details of the Games, including the rowing timetable are available on the World Masters Games web site www.2002worldmasters.org . 

For more information on the 1956 Olympic Reunion please contact Ian Allen at ianallenaes@hotmail.com, from Rowing Victoria, 337A Lennox Street, Richmond, Victoria Australia, 3121.