World Rowing presents IOC leadership and Singapore officials the richness of digital solutions for Rowing

On the occasion of the inaugural Olympic Esports Week 2023, a delegation of top level IOC representatives together with a group of high ranked representatives of event hosting city Singapore earlier today made a visit to the World Rowing booth in Singapore’s Suntec Conference and Exhibition Centre.

In the the Free-to-Play zone of the festival, where World Rowing is currently exhibiting, IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng and the IOC Members David Lappartient, Karl Stoss, Seung Min Ryu, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Zhang Hong, and Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck were welcomed by Filip Ljubicic (World Rowing Council Member and Chair of the Indoor Rowing Commission).

The delegation, which also consisted of Teo Chee Hean (Singapore Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister of National Security), Alvin Tan (Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry), and Alan Goh (CEO Sport Singapore) were then introduced to Theo Ridgen (CEO of Rowcave), and Alfred Campenaerts (CEO and Founder of Salty Lemon Entertainment, who developed the EXR App). Both were given opportunity to present their individual solutions and software, which are truly designed to increase engagement, enhance experience, drive participation in the sport, and bring together the global Rowing community in the digital environment.

The visitors also discussed with athletes from the Rowing Singapore Olympic team, accompanied by their President Dato Paul Supramaniam Sra, about how Indoor Rowing can enrich and embrace the Olympic Movement and support the further development of IOC’s overall Esports Initiative.

Later on, Teo Chee Hean also had a chance to experience the fun of Indoor Rowing himself, exercising a group row on an animated Singapore Marina Bay course. The Minister was in good company, with Olympians and Gold Medalists such as Will Satch MBE (Great Britain), Matthew Brittain (South Africa), and Joan Poh (Singapore).

Filip Ljubicic said after the IOC Vice President’s visit: “It was fantastic to have the world’s sports leadership visit our exhibition and to be able to share with them the broad opportunities that Indoor Rowing can bring to millions of people around the world. We are convinced that Indoor Rowing has a bright future within the IOC’s Esports initiative and we are looking forward to developing its full potential going forward with close collaboration with the IOC.”

“What a pleasure it was to be at the amazing rowing booth and see how the Olympic Esports Week has helped to uplift Rowing and widen its reach and mass appeal” added Dato Paul Supramaniam.

 About:

The Olympic Esports Week 2023 is a four-day festival showcasing the best of virtual sports. The inaugural event, created by the IOC in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore and the Singapore National Olympic Committee (SNOC) will take place at Singapore’s Suntec Conference and Exhibition Centre from the 22nd to the 25th of June.

The Olympic Esports Week 2023 showcases the best of virtual sports across exhibiting the latest innovations, panel discussions, education sessions and show matches. A highlight of the Olympic Esports Week 2023 will be the first live, in-person finals of the Olympic Esports Series 2023.

Rowing participates as an exhibition sport in the free-to-play zone in collaboration with EXR and Rowcave.