One month countdown to 2013 World Rowing Championships

This is the first time that Korea has hosted the World Rowing Championships and it is just the second time that the championships have been in Asia. After winning the bid in 2009, it has been full steam ahead for the Chungju organising committee to set up a world class venue.

Last year Chungju hosted the Asian Olympic Qualification Regatta which helped to test the Tangeum Lake international rowing venue for the 2013 championship regatta. In preparation for this event and for the World Rowing Championships the Korean Rowing Federation has conducted a campaign to raise the awareness of rowing in Korea. The campaign included a television show featuring Korean celebrities learning how to row.

For nations from around the world that will be racing at the World Rowing Championships, they are facing the final training stretch before the championships begin. Different nations approach this stretch in a variety of ways. Location, available finances and coach discretion will help form their preparation.

For Great Britain the senior team has headed to the mountains of Austria before a World Championship event ever since Juergen Grobler became head coach in 1991. Grobler believes in the merits of altitude training and the team will spend three weeks at Lake Silvretta. For New Zealand preparation will be on their home waters of Lake Karapiro before heading to Korea to arrive for an acclimatisation period two weeks before the start of the championships. In the United States some crews are still yet to be selected, with the full squad being named in a few days time. For younger athletes, some will use the World Rowing Under 23 Championships as a stepping stone to Chungju.

The World Rowing Championships begins on 25 August and concludes on 1 September 2013.

For more information visit the 2013 World Rowing Championships event page here.