2002 Zurich Rowing World Cup Season Debut

A total of 540 rowers, including over 35 Sydney Olympic Games medallists, will take part in the first leg of the 2002 Zurich Rowing World Cup series which will be held in Hazewinkel, Belgium from 14 to 16 June. Hailing from 34 countries, the rowers will compete in a total of 236 boats.

Great Britain has entered the largest squad with 69 rowers including their star crew of Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell who dominated the men’s pair event in 2001. Reigning World Cup Champion Germany is sending 67 rowers to race in 22 boats who will be eager to start the World Cup season with a bang in order to gain the valuable points needed to become the overall World Cup winner at the end of the three regattas. 

In addition to the strong European rowing nations, overseas crews include rowers from Asian nations (Hong Kong, Singapore, China) and the African continent (Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe). And new to the rowing world is Armenia who will be making its international debut as five rowers travel to Hazewinkel to race in two boats.

The finals, to be raced on Sunday 16 June will be transmitted on the European sports channel Eurosport as well as on BBC in Great Britain, VRT in Belgium, NOS in the Netherlands, RAI in Italy, TVE in Spain and several other European television channels.

The Zurich Rowing World Cup is an annual competition series comprising three regattas featuring the fourteen Olympic boat classes racing over a classic 2000 metre distance. Points will be awarded to the highest placing boats at each regatta in the fourteen Olympic boat classes. A winning federation will be declared after each regatta and the nation winning the overall Zurich Rowing World Cup will be determined at the end of the three regattas. In 2002, the regattas of the series will take place in Hazewinkel, Belgium (14 -16 June), Lucerne, Switzerland (12-14 July) and the final in Munich, Germany (1 – 3 August).

Visit www.worldrowing.com during the event for a full list of entries, a racing timetable as well as an extensive boat class preview. During racing, this website will provide live scoring, interviews, press releases, start lists and full results.

Click here for more information.