Australia Secures Home World Cup

Rowing in Australia is entering a new and exciting chapter. At the 2011 World Rowing Championships held in Bled, Slovenia earlier this month, Aussie rowers won a record 10 medals, with the Australian Rowing Team finishing second out of 68 nations on the points table, and Rowing Australia was awarded the opening round of the prestigious FISA Samsung World Rowing Cup for 2013 and 2014.

Today, the future of the sport is shining even brighter with the NSW Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Tourism and Major Events George Souris, announcing the inaugural ‘Sydney International Rowing Regatta – World Rowing Down Under’.

This week-long festival of rowing will take place at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith, 18-24 March 2013. The regatta will include the opening round of the Samsung World Rowing Cup, Australian Open Rowing Championships, Australian Schools Rowing Championships, as well as the prestigious King’s and Queen’s Cup events.

Rowing Australia Director John Boultbee said, “For the first time in the history of world rowing, a Samsung World Rowing Cup round will take place in the same regatta as a national rowing championships. It will also be the first time a Samsung World Rowing Cup has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.

“Hosting the events will significantly benefit the sport of rowing in Australia and the people of NSW. The economic benefits to the people of Western Sydney will be significant with the Samsung World Rowing Cup alone, expected to see some 800 athletes, officials and media from across the world, make the journey “down under”. There will also be more than 2000 athletes coming from around Australia to compete at the regatta, as well as thousands of spectators.

“For many young athletes and club rowers, the chance to see and compete on the same water as London 2012 Olympic Champions, will be an incredible experience for these athletes”.

Three time Olympic Gold Medalist and five time World Champion, Drew Ginn said, “The one thing that Australian rowers always lack in our preparation for major events such as the World Championships and Olympic Games, is international racing in Australia. Having the World Cup come to Sydney is a dream come true for both elite and up and coming rowers.

“The finals for the National Schools Championships events are going to be raced within the World Cup regatta itself. This will ensure young athletes have the best experience possible” said Ginn. “It is very exciting! I only wish as a young school boy rower I had been able to line up right next to the Russians or the Chinese – what a buzz!”

Andrew Dee, CEO of Rowing Australia noted that securing the prestigious World Rowing Cup component of the regatta would not have been possible without the assistance of the NSW Government through Destination NSW, “The NSW Government under Premier O’Farrell and Minister Souris deserve enormous credit for seeing the potential of this exciting new concept. Our commitment to FISA and Destination NSW is that we will make this unique event a huge success. Planning is well underway and we have an experienced organising committee chaired by Sydney based Chris Noel.

“We encourage the Australian rowing community and the general public to get involved and be part of this historic regatta.”

The inaugural week-long “Sydney International Rowing Regatta – World Rowing Down Under” will be conducted at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, 18 – 24 March 2013.