Para-rowing included in Tokyo Paralympics

This will be the fourth time for para-rowing in the Paralympic Games and indicates the ongoing commitment by the rowing community to establish para-rowing programmes around the world. An important criteria for inclusion in the Paralympic Games is worldwide reach of the sport and FISA Para-rowing Commission Chair Fay Ho says that World Rowing has covered this requirement.

“In response to this requirement,” says Ho, “we have regularly organised workshops for education of coaches and para-rowing classifiers in recent years.” Ho added that being granted the Agitos Foundation grant (via the IPC) has helped. “This Foundation means that we are able to encourage more new countries to take part in para-rowing.”

The first Agitos Training Camp will take place in Gavarite, Italy in May 2015.

“We are also exploring new para-rowing events like the LTA double sculls at the World Rowing Championships,” says Ho. “This is to test whether this small boat event will help to encourage a country with a small para-rowing team to participate. We still have time until 2017 to confirm what boat classes we include in the 2020 Paralympics.”

In the IPC press release, IPC President Philip Craven stated: “To reach this decision, the IPC undertook the most extensive and rigorous review process ever of all the sports which started in November 2013.

“All were assessed against the same criteria and our aim all along has been to ensure that the final Tokyo 2020 Paralympic sports programme is fresh and features the best para-sports possible.”

Two sports missed out; football 7-a-side and sailing.

The 22 sports that will be included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are: athletics, archery, badminton, boccia, canoe, cycling, equestrian, football 5-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.