FISA Team Satisfied with Progress in Schinias

Schinias – the 2004 Olympic rowing course

A FISA inspection team returned yesterday (Thursday) from Athens, Greece with positive reports of the progress made by ATHOC for the 2004 Olympic Games rowing regatta.

“This is the second FISA inspection to visit to check on ATHOC’s progress in preparing the 2004 Olympic rowing regatta” said FISA executive director Matt Smith. “We are satisfied that course construction work is progressing to schedule so that everything will be ready for next August’s test event. The Organising Committee have presented the planning for all the functional areas and we are pleased with all the proposals we have been shown”.

Accompanied by FISA technical officials Mike Sweeney, Svetla Otzetova and Daniela Oronova, the group was briefed at the organizing committee headquarters on progress in various fields including competition programme, results and timekeeping, accommodation, sports equipment, food services, award ceremonies and press services.

The rowing course, which is still under construction, is located 45 km from Athens in Schinias and will host the FISA World Rowing Junior Championships in August 2003. The junior competition, held exactly one year before the Olympic event, will serve as a test-event for the 2004 Olympic Games regatta.

The Olympic regatta will be held from August 15 to 22, 2004.