12% Rise in Athlete Entries at the 2006 World Rowing Under
23 Championships
A total of 54 nations will be represented this year at the
2006 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium
from 20 to 23 July. Rowers will be travelling from as far
as Japan and New Zealand for a chance to race in this year's
event.
Participation is booming with 784 competitors, a 12% increase
(compared to 700 in 2005), racing in 293 crews in 20 boat
classes. The highest number of entries comes in the lightweight
men's single sculls where 24 contestants will battle it out
to achieve World Champion status. The most represented country
this year is Germany with 65 athletes entered in each of the
20 events.
Formerly known as the Nation's Cup and the Match des Seniors,
this is only the second year that the Under 23 regatta has
"World Rowing Championship" status. The event acts
as a stepping stone for athletes on their way to elite status
who have advanced from junior status, but are still developing
their skills. Many of these young athletes have already taken
part in several Rowing World Cup events this season.
The event this year will have a very high turnout from developing
nations taking part thanks to support from the FISA Development
Programme. Participants from Algeria, Togo, Morocco, Zimbabwe,
Kenya, Peru, El Salvador and Armenia will be competing. Many
of the athletes present were identified through FISA's talent
Identification training camps in Tunisia and South Africa
earlier this year. For many, like Togolese single sculler
Pitakani Denise Tango or Peterlis Osiany and James Okello
from the Kenyan lightweight men's double scull, this is the
first ever participation at the world level.
"Many of these athletes may be looking at this as a
first step towards qualification for the Olympic Games next
year" says Sheila Stephens Desbans, FISA's Development
Manager, "this is their first chance to measure their
progress at the world level."
The World Rowing Under 23 Championships regatta in Hazewinkel
(near Mechelen), Belgium begins on Thursday 20 July and will
go on for four days. The A Finals will be raced on Sunday
23 July.
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