Building on a record medal haul at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled Slovenia, Rowing Australia together with the NSW Government through ‘Destination NSW,’ has secured the rights to stage the opening round of the prestigious Samsung World Rowing Cup in 2013 and 2014.The events will be staged at the International Regatta Centre (SIRC), Penrith Lakes, a legacy venue of the Sydney 2000 Games.International Rowing Federation (FISA) President Denis Oswald commented, “The FISA Council’s decision to attribute the first World Rowing Cup of 2013 to Sydney returns international rowing to Sydney and marks an important new era in our sport. Supported by our Title Partner Samsung, we are taking our sport global, to the southern hemisphere thus enabling us to reach new fans and extend our season.
"We are really pleased to be partnering with Rowing Australia and ‘Destination NSW’. We know Australians deliver great events and that this exciting development in our sport will be widely embraced by the world’s rowing community.”
"We're delighted to have been awarded the opening rounds of the World Rowing Cup in 2013 and 2014 by FISA" said Colin Smith, President of Rowing Australia. "It's an honour to be able to bring the best rowers in the world back to Sydney to compete at one of the best rowing facilities in the world (SIRC)."
Hosting these events will benefit the sport of rowing and the people of NSW in a variety of ways. There will be immediate benefits to the economy of many hundreds of athletes, coaches, support staff and spectators coming to Sydney for training camps and competition. Media coverage and event broadcasts will mean the eyes of the rowing world will once again be on Western Sydney.
"For Australian rowing, it will showcase our sport and provide inspiration to everyone who watches the event, and particularly to our next generation of elite athletes."Mr Smith added, Even though the formal announcement was only just made in Slovenia, preparations have already commenced. We have an Organising Committee already looking at all aspects of the event and talking with international coaches and teams.
"On the back of our great results here in Slovenia just one year before the London 2012 Olympic Games, it's an exciting time for Rowing in Australia - and we look forward to making the most of these two wonderful opportunities," Mr Smith concluded.
