Preparations Underway for the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Rio

World Rowing representatives travelled to Rio de Janeiro for a technical site visit and planning meetings ahead of the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals (WRBSF), which will be held on Flamengo Beach from 23–26 October 2025.

This marks the first time since 2019 that the WRBSF will take place outside of Europe, bringing a World Rowing Championship event back to Rio for the first time since the Olympic and Paralympic Regattas of 2016.

 The World Rowing delegation included Cameron Allen (Coastal Commission Member and Technical Delegate for the event), Christian Osterode (Head of Broadcast & Marketing), Matt Evans (Senior Events Manager and Coastal Discipline Lead), and Priscilla Moreira (Event Manager for the 2025 WRBSF). They were welcomed by the Brazilian Rowing Federation and the local organising committee, led by President Magali Moreira.

The visit focused on reviewing the venue and operational planning, while also exploring how to integrate the energy and culture of Brazil’s beaches into the dynamic format of beach sprint. The 2025 edition is a key milestone on the pathway to Beach Sprint Rowing being featured for the first time at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

 The delegation also met with several key stakeholders. At the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) headquarters, they were hosted by Director General Emanuel Rego and the technical staff, who confirmed their support for both the event and Brazil’s athlete development plans. World Rowing also expressed appreciation for the support of COB President Marco La Porta.

A meeting with Rio de Janeiro’s Deputy Secretary of Sport and Leisure, Ms Anna Laura Valente Secco, addressed operational coordination with the city, including venue use, security, and sport initiation activities to engage local youth and the broader community. The visit concluded with a productive exchange with Senator Carlos Portinho, who expressed support for the event and its long-term impact.

“World Rowing is excited to return to Rio in 2025, now with another Olympic discipline as we look towards LA28. We are grateful for the strong local partnerships in place to support the successful delivery of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals” commented World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland.