Large entry for 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam

For immediate release
Lausanne, 13 August 2014

The World Rowing Federation, FISA, is proud to announce the entries for the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Click here for the full entry list.

Rowing’s most important event of the year has attracted an impressive turnout of over 1,100 competitors from 60 countries. Competition will be spread across 27 boat classes including the 14 Olympic, eight International and five Para-rowing boat classes. There is also a significant increase in participation in the women’s sweep rowing boat classes of the women’s pair, four and eight. The large turnout has required a slight modification to the schedule.

Overall the men’s single sculls has attracted the biggest entry with scullers from 32 countries competing for the World Championship title. Leading the way at present in this field are two scullers; World Champion Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic and Olympic Champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand. The women’s single sculls has a record number of entries with scullers from 29 countries lining up. The top contenders are likely to be the gold and silver medallists from 2013; Kim Crow of Australia and Emma Twigg of New Zealand.

Italy makes up the biggest team with 26 boats entered. They have shown recent strength in both the men’s and women’s lightweight double sculls. Germany and the United States are sending 25 crews each. Germany is especially strong in the women’s quadruple sculls and men’s eight while the United States is strong in the women’s eight. Host nation the Netherlands has entered 22 crews led by the men’s pair and men’s four.

Para-rowing has attracted a sizeable field in the AS men’s single sculls with crews from 14 nations competing. In its second year as a World Championship event, the LTA mixed double sculls has a large jump in interest with crews from eight countries racing on the Bosbaan.

Amsterdam’s Bosbaan regatta course has hosted a number of top rowing events in recent years including the World Rowing Cup in 2007 and the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in 2005 and 2011. The venue is the home of the Dutch national team and the most popular annual event on the Bosbaan is the Holland Beker Regatta which was first contested in 1886.

At the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju, Korea, Italy finished at the top of the medals table. Italy won eight medals including three golds. Australia was second and Great Britain finished third.  Australia and Great Britain are both sending 19 crews to Amsterdam.

Racing begins with heats on Sunday 24 August 2014 at 13:00 CET.

For results, schedules, full race reports, photos, live blogging and live race streaming go to www.worldrowing.com. To view the media guide (from 18/8/14) go to: http://www.worldrowing.com/mediacenter/