ACT Rowing Association - Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
2nd August 2007
 
ACT Rowers Countdown to Beijing: World Rowing Junior Championships to be the first official Olympic Test event next week in China
 
Exactly one year before the start of the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing is gearing up for its first official test event in the form of the 2007 World Rowing Junior Championships. The custom built state of the art regatta course at Shunyi, which will be used for rowing and flat water canoe kayak as well as hosting a canoe slalom course will be put to the test next week, starting Wednesday 8 August, for its first international spotlight event.

A total of 600 young athletes have made the trip to Beijing from as many as 49 countries. The number of athletes is slightly higher than the Olympic quota of 550, so this event will test the venue at full scale in preparation for the Olympic regatta next year.
The ACT will be well represented at the championship with no less than four Rowers staking their claim for a World Championship medal. ACT will represent Australia in the Women’s’ Junior Pair with the combination of Christabelle Northam and Veronica Tamsitt, coached by Gordon Marcks.
 
Nick Barnier and Zac Cleaver will team up with two rowers from interstate to form the Men’s Junior Quad. The quad will be coached by Regan Sanders.
Not surprisingly, China appear in force on their home ground event. With 44 athletes representing China in 12 events, China will be keen to show off their new rowing blood to the world. With the successes of the Chinese senior squad this year fresh in the mind of rowing specialists, all eyes will be focused on the upcoming rowing generation of the land of the Dragon.

However, it is Germany, with 49 athletes participating, which will bring the largest contingent to Beijing. Germany, who traditionally dominate the Junior Championships, and who last year took 11 medals at the World Rowing Junior Championships in Amsterdam, will again be represented in all 13 events on the programme. Both the USA and Italy will be strongly represented in Beijing this year with 41 and 36 young athletes respectively entered for the two countries.

FISA Event Director, Svetla Otzetova, already on site in Beijing said today: “The venue looks fantastic! Athletes have already arrived, and have started to train on the course.” She adds: “all the volunteers are very friendly here, and they are working very hard to make this a most enjoyable event.”

FISA’s President Denis Oswald also commented: “We are very satisfied with the fast progress that has been made here over the past months to bring this venue to the condition it is in today. It is exciting to be able to test the venue on such an important event in our rowing calendar and this is a great opportunity for the young rowers to experience the thrills of racing at a brand new Olympic venue.”
Australia’s National team are currently in Penrith training at the Olympic course before heading to Beijing later in the week.
 
To compete in the World Rowing Junior Championships, rowers must be 18 years or under.

Visit the official website of the International Rowing Federation www.worldrowing.com during the event to follow the live audio streaming, live results, race reports, interviews, photos and more.
 
<<ENDS>>
 
 
Matthew Ronke
Executive Officer, Rowing ACT
p 02 6249 6111
f 02 6257 1083
e actra@rowingact.org.au
 
Sports House
100 Maitland St
Hackett ACT 2602