22 Jul 2022
Rowing makes a comeback at the 2022 EuroGames
This year’s EuroGames, hosted in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, between the 27th and 30th of July, will feature rowing for the first time in years. World Rowing spoke to Sports Coordinator for Rowing, Céderique Ortmans, to learn more.
The EuroGames is an annual multi-sport competition hosted by a different city in Europe each time. It is backed by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation, highlighting its origins as a key convenor for the LGBTQ+ community. Anyone can sign up to compete, and 2000 participants from around the world are anticipated to come to Nijmegen this year. EuroGames feature an eclectic mix of 17 sports disciplines, from mainstream Olympic sports such as football, running and badminton, to ballroom dancing and bridge.
When Nijmegen won the bid in 2018 to host the 2022 competition, rowing was not originally featured. The 2020 EuroGames, hosted in Germany in the City of Düsseldorf, were meant to feature rowing, but like much of the world’s events, it was cancelled because of the pandemic. Céderique, a native of Nijmegen, was among a group of people who spotted the opportunity to ensure rowing was included in the roster of disciplines in which people could compete.
Céderique is, in many ways, the perfect leader in managing the complex logistics of rowing for the 2022 EuroGames. He knows the sport well, having started rowing in 2009, coxing for his lightweight men’s crews at a local student club. Crucially, he also has experience umpiring and organising regattas, including in Nijmegen, and so he knew the relevant city officials needed to obtain consent to allow a regatta to take place.
Céderique could have followed the usual racing format through the winding River Waal, similar to other domestic regattas in Nijmegen. Instead, he decided to have a shorter straight lane course. “I chose this setup because we wanted to do something different to the usual domestic regatta, to make it a bit more like Henley Royal Regatta.”
To further boost its inclusivity, athletes can also rent boats to race in, which has proved popular. Of the 110 rowing entries, 40 are hiring boats. Many are also rowing in multiple boat classes. The support of local rowing clubs has been vital for this, including RV de Waal, N.S.R.V. Phocas and RV De Drie Provinciën.
In terms of what EuroGames hopes to bring to the sport of rowing, Céderique reflected: “What I would like to see in the future is for EuroGames to help strengthen the diversity of the sport of rowing, including a stronger LGBQT+ rowing community and continue to make it more inclusive. I joined this kind of event, so I can be with people I can relate with.”
To learn more about EuroGames, please explore their website here.