International Rowing Federation

The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron, or FISA for short, is the International Rowing Federation which is the governing body for international Rowing. Its current president is Denis Oswald. The Rowing World Cup, World Rowing Championships, and other such competitions are overseen by this organization.

History

It was founded by rowing representatives from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Adriatica, and Italy on June 25, 1892 in Turin in response to the growing popularity of the sport of rowing, and the consequent need for uniformity of regulations over such matters as race lengths, boat composition, and weight classes. Also, at the time, betting on rowing was very popular, and the rowers or coaches were themselves often taking bets. Amateur status was unknown in the sport, a state of affairs which can lead to corruption, such as thrown races.

The first regatta organised by the newly formed FISA was the "European Rowing Championships" and was held in 1893 in Orta, Italy. It only had 10 entries in 3 events and no professional participants. By 1925, the 27th European Championships, held in Prague, included 24 entries in 10 different events.

FISA established its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1922.

FISA was the first international sports federation to join the Olympic movement. It has been on the Olympic program since the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens. (The rowing events at the 1896 games were cancelled because of high winds). Each country which participates in rowing has a federation or governing body which belongs to the "FISA Congress". These federations (of which there are currently 118) have overall control of what FISA does.

Events

FISA organises a large number of international rowing events throughout the year.

Olympics

FISA has been sponsoring the program for rowing events at the Olympic games since the intitial Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. It is also responsible for running the qualification program to select the participants for the games.

Rowing World Cup

Started in 1997, the World Cup comprises three regattas held in early Summer.

World Rowing Championships

A week long regatta held every year. During Olympic years, only non-Olympic boat classes race.

Junior World Rowing Championships

Running since 1967, the Junior Championships is for those who are under 18 by the end of the current calendar year. During Olympic years it is held at the same time as the World Rowing Championships.

World Rowing Under 23 Championships

First held in 1976, this regatta is for those too old for the Junior Championships but who do not turn 23 by the end of the current calendar year (previously categorised as "Senior B" by FISA). The event was originally named the "Nations Cup" and opposed by FISA. In 2002 the name was changed to the "World Rowing U23 Regatta" and further changed to "World Rowing U23 Championships" in 2005.

World Rowing Masters Regatta

For rowers over the age of 27. There are also events for mixed crews - where half the crew is men and half women (excluding cox). This year's FISA World Rowing Masters Regatta will take place at Zagreb in Croatia.

World Rowing Sprints

A new idea introduced in 2002 as an attempt to bring rowing to the centre of cities. The first (and only) event took place on the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London and was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz. Crews from Great Britain, United States, Germany, and The Netherlands took part in the 500 m race. Famous rowing champions raced, including Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell, and Marcel Hacker.

Each team was made up of 13 rowers (5 women, 7 men, and a cox). Events were held in Women's Single Sculls, Men's Single Sculls, Women's Double Sculls, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs and Men's Fours. These crews then combined to form Mixed Quad Sculls and Eights.

Great Britain were the eventual winners and crowned the "Mercedes-Benz Sprints Champions".

See also

*Thomas Keller, former President of FISA
*Thomas Keller Medal, Awarded annually by FISA to a rower(s) with an outstanding international career

External links

* [http://www.worldrowing.com Official FISA homepage]
* [http://www.rowingone.com RowingOne] - Profiles of international rowers
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20021124010551/http://www.canottaggiovero.com/Archivio/Genova+2002+Nations+Cup/Speciale+Mondial+Remo+2002/Story+of+World+U23+Rowing+Regatta.htm History of the World U23 Rowing Regatta]