Why host a World Rowing
Once a year the best rowers in the world
get together with the aim of racing to
be World Champions. The World Rowing
Championships is the highlight of the
international rowing calendar. For the
International Rowing Federation, FISA, it is
their biggest and, after the Olympic Games,
the most valuable asset to the federation.
Championships?
The Bosbaan, venue of the 2014
World Rowing Championships, in
Amsterdam (NED).
With the necessary backing of their municipal and are much more costly to run, whereas the World
national governments, cities bid to host the World Rowing Championships offer an attractive, cost-
Rowing Championships. They are motivated by effective means of promotion for the cities with
much more than a passion for rowing, and the the appropriate facilities.
stakes are high.
between bid-candidates and seen that their
local governments have come to recognise the
values and benefits of hosting the World Rowing
Championships. These include:
As a result, the competition to host is increasing and • Tourism (Sports-tourism is one of the fastest-
The decision to bid for the rights to host a sporting the standard of bidding is improving. Professionals growing segments of tourism for many nations.)
event like the World Rowing Championships is are now employed to make the bids more e ective
motivated by a number of reasons; for example, and senior government o cials are now part of • Obtaining or justifying government grants to
it can considerably raise the profile of a city or every candidate’s presentation. Gone are the days improve local infrastructure
country - not only in rowing, but as a tourist when bid-candidates could simply await for their
destination. Also, the nation’s rowers and their turn to come around, and the days of volunteers • Boosting the local economy from the influx of
federation will benefit from the increased bidding for and running the events are long- local and overseas participants and spectators
investment and the heightened awareness which behind us.
a high-profile bid will bring to that region. Hosting • Creating an opportunity to feature the city
the World Rowing Championships has further FISA’s Executive Director, Matt Smith, has and venue on television to a global audience
appeal because certain other sporting events noted the marked growth in competition (potential for 150 million viewers) >
