Virtual Rowing Engages New Audiences at Tokyo eSports Festa 2026

Virtual Rowing took centre stage at the Tokyo eSports Festa 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight, where thousands of visitors discovered the unique intersection of Rowing, technology and digital sport through an innovative and interactive programme.

Delivered through a collaboration between World Rowing, the Japan Sports Council, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan Rowing Association, the initiative forms part of an international joint research project led by World Rowing and the Japan Sports Council. The project aims to build on the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games while exploring new opportunities for the future of rowing in virtual and connected environments.

Japanese Olympic and Paralympic rowing representatives Ryuta Arakawa, Emi Hirouchi, Ayako Takano and Ryota Seto played a leading role throughout the event, taking part in demonstrations and challenge sessions that highlighted the competitive and experiential potential of Virtual Rowing. Visitors were invited to participate directly, engaging with the technology and experiencing rowing in a new, immersive format.

A key attraction was the Virtual Rowing Contest, operated via an application replicating the Sea Forest Waterway, the iconic venue of the Tokyo 2020 rowing events. This digital recreation offered participants a highly realistic racing experience, bridging elite sport and virtual competition.

Alongside this, the “Everyone’s eSports Plaza” featured inclusive programmes using rowing machines, enabling participants of all ages and abilities to compete side by side with national team athletes. The open and energetic environment reinforced Virtual Rowing’s potential as a shared sporting experience that brings people together.

Beyond competition, Virtual Rowing continues to demonstrate its value as an accessible and inclusive activity, combining physical fitness with digital innovation. Designed to engage both newcomers and experienced rowers, it represents an important step in expanding participation and reimagining how rowing can be experienced beyond traditional settings.

Following the success of Tokyo eSports Festa 2026, World Rowing will continue its close collaboration with the Japan Sports Council to further develop and promote Virtual Sports. Guided by the concept “From High Performance to Life Performance”, this work aims to extend the impact of rowing into everyday life, creating new value for communities and contributing positively to society.