Asian Rowing Championships used as step to Olympics

The venue, Lake Hwacheon Regatta Course, is a natural lake and it regularly hosts the Korean national rowing championships as well as houses the training centre for the Korean national team. Hwacheon has the experience of international events as it hosted the 2005 Asian Junior Rowing Championships

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This year organisers are expecting over 300 athletes with the majority coming from China, Hong Kong and Japan. There will also be about 120 coaches and officials.

In an unprecedented move the Asian Rowing Federation has offered a development programme to attract new rowing nations. This programme gives free accommodation and boat rental for a total of four people – three athletes and one coach. Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates are taking advantage of the programme and have thus increased the number of participating countries.

This regatta will be used by many as a preview for the Asian Olympic Qualification Regatta. FISA development manager Sheila Shephens Desbans explained, “(This regatta) will see which teams are on track for trying to qualify. A lot can change though and although the (Olympic Qualification) regatta will be at a different venue in Korea (in Chungju) it will still give us a taste for the teams to watch for from Asia.”

“Asia is really moving in rowing,” added Ken Lee, secretary general of the Asian Rowing Championships.

The Asian Continental Olympic Qualification Regatta will be held in Chungju, Korea 26 – 29 April, 2012.

Temperatures for the rowers at Hwacheon are expected to be mild averaging about 12 degrees Celsius with advice being given to the athletes that it could be chilly in the mornings and evenings. Hwacheon weather forecast: http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Hwacheon