Distinguished Service to International Rowing; Svetla Otzetova

If you’ve ever been to an international regatta, chances are the design of the course has been influenced by Svetla Otzetova. The Bulgarian has been involved in international rowing for over 55 years and she’s just been awarded World Rowing’s 2023 Distinguished Service to International Rowing.

For the last five decades Otzetova has travelled the world giving advice and helping design Olympic-standard regatta courses for world championships, world cups, Olympics and Paralympics.

Otzetova comes from a competitive rowing background. She raced internationally for a decade which included gold at the 1976 Olympic Games – the first Olympics for women’s rowing. Her involvement in the organisation side of international rowing began when she was helping the organising committee of the 1991 Mediterranean Games in Greece.

“FISA’s then development manager Thor Nilsen noticed what I was doing and recommended me to FISA to consult and help.”

Otzetova has a degree in architecture, specialising in public structures like stadiums and public buildings. It was not long before her skills were recognised. She first advised on the 1992 Olympic rowing course in Banyoles, Spain and from then on became the go-to for designing Olympic regatta courses.

During Olympic bid time for the 2004 Games and she travelled to each of the 11 bid cities advising, creating and designing the regatta venues and courses.

Otzetova’s list of international involvement stretches across numerous areas. She was the third-ever woman to serve on the International Olympic Committee, until 2005 was Vice president of the Bulgarian National Olympic Committee and was the president of the Bulgarian Rowing Federation until 2012.

For World Rowing she was first involved in 1979 as a member of the Regatta Organisation and Installation Commission, then the Events Commission and on a professional basis a consultant before becoming the Events Director.

Her roles took Otzetova around the world and she has many stand-out memories. Puerto Rico was applicant city bidding for the 2004 Olympics Games and Otzetova was invited to help them design their rowing venue.

“It was a dam at a military base and they were excited about me coming from an eastern European country. They didn’t give me full access. They did build what I suggested and I think they’re still using it.”

Otzetova also remembers trips to Guatemala, South Africa as well as the preparation for the Sydney Olympics and Athens. Her love of fish, especially shrimp, preceded her and everywhere Otzetova went her hosts would make sure fish was on the menu. Doyles in Sydney was a favourite with Otzetova making her hosts smile by ordering shrimp for her entrée as well as the main course.

Otzetova formally retired in 2022, but in name only. She is still advising on regatta venues and currently involved in the design and construction of the Los Angeles and Brisbane Olympic regatta venues.

“In all my work I have tried to create the most efficient and sustainable design, to keep athletes’ needs priority and as rowing is a team sport – to keep a good team spirit.”

She actively looks at the future of international rowing, believing it needs to become more attractive for spectators.

“People are different now and rowing needs to compete with other sports. I have a strong opinion that we need to do something to compete. I see that in beach sprints and coastal rowing. Classic rowing is very special but to survive we need to do something more dynamic.

“I have so much experience and knowledge and I hope I will be able to pass it on.”