Lightweight Rowers Reassured as IOC Executive Board Modifies Controversial Principle

FISA, the International Rowing Federation announced today in a circular, that lightweight rowing had been included in a new IOC principle, which states that “There should not be any events [in the Olympic Programme] based on biometric criteria with the exception of those already in the programme?.

The principle, proposed by the IOC Programme Commission in August and stating that ?weight categories in the Olympic Games should only apply to combat sports and weight lifting? was amended by the IOC Executive Board during it’s meeting on 26 November. The principle, allows those events already part of the programme such as the three lightweight rowing categories to remain.

?We can consider this a victory for the development of our sport and our efforts to make our sport more universal,? said FISA President Denis Oswald in the circular.

?We need to continue our work to promote and develop our sport as well as reflect on the structure of our Olympic events, as there will always be some pressure to reduce the number of events and rowers participating in the Games ? he said.

Although the new principle was ratified by the IOC Session, some of the elements of the report concerning disciplines and events in other sports will continue to be examined. The IOC has also voted to analyse each sport after each Olympic games and adjustments to the programme will become more frequent than in the past.