FISA Announces Qualification System for Athens 2004

FISA, the International Rowing Federation, announced today its qualification system for the 2004 Olympic Games regatta in Athens, Greece.

A total of 550 athletes (358 men and 192 women) rowing in 202 boats will qualify to row in the Olympic Games in the 14 events that are raced. Click here for a chart of the exact breakdown of boats and athletes per Olympic boat class.

The Schinias rowing course, site of the 2004 Olympic Games rowing regatta

The system for qualification allows rowers around the world two chances to qualify for these spots. The first opportunity is at the 2003 FISA World Rowing Championships to be held in Milan, Italy from 24 to 31 August 2003. At this event, 130 boats containing 398 rowers will qualify based on their performances. For example, the first 11 placing men’s single sculls and the first five placing women’s eights will qualify their boat for their National Olympic Committee. This represents 72% of all rowing spots and 64% of all boats that will go on to race in the 2004 Olympic Games regatta.

The second stage for qualification consists of smaller continental qualification regattas that will be held in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in 2004 during which 52 rowers in 40 specifically selected boat classes have the chance to gain places for the Games.

The last qualification regatta, to be held in June of 2004, will qualify the final 32 boats and 100 rowers. The sites of the qualification regattas have not yet been finalised.

The deadline for the Athens 2004 Organising Committee to receive the entry forms for the athletes qualified for the rowing regatta is July 21, 2004.