ΑΛΛΑΓΗ ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΟ ΤΟΥ 2010

Championship to run October 29th - November 7th 20 - Sat 26th Jul 2008
The 2010 Rowing World Championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand have been moved from the proposed September date and will now run from October 29th - November 7th 2010.

The change – requested by Karapiro World Championship organisers – was agreed by the world governing body of the sport FISA at its annual World Congress yesterday in Linz, Austria where the World Junior and Senior Rowing Championships are taking place. Securing the date change is a relief for the organisers, who had feared poor weather conditions in September when the world rowing championships are traditionally run. The later date is a departure for the sport, but was not contested by any of the national federations.

“The only point of deliberation in Austria surrounded a negligible and possible wind increase of one meter per second but taking this risk meant there was the likelihood of much better and warmer weather, and it was a change we were pushing hard for,” explained Karapiro 2010 Chief Executive Officer Tom Mayo.

“In addition to having warmer weather and likely better facilities as a result, there are also no major clashing sporting events now in the shape of rugby or the Commonwealth Games.

“In short, although radical by international rowing standards, the new date is an acknowledgement by FISA that Southern Hemisphere events require a different perspective and an improved opportunity for us to deliver a truly world class event.”

There has been huge interest in the New Zealand event both domestically and internationally and organisers expect the event to be a hit with spectators at home, as well as with teams, team personnel and international sporting media. The 1978 rowing world championships were held at Lake Karapiro, and are widely regarded` as one of the best in the history of the sport.

Work is also now underway at Lake Karapiro on vital infrastructure required before the championships begin.