Man of the Year backs Iraq

From Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Engeman, 71, has been involved in rowing ever since his high school days. "I know a number of people through rowing who had been to Iraq (with the military) and I became interested with what could be done to rebuild the country," says Engeman. Someone suggested to Engeman to do something in line with his interests and this stimulated him to contact FISA's executive director Matt Smith. ??

"We first went to Poznan (Poland) for the 2009 World Rowing Championships at Matt's invitation and there I met the president and vice-president of Iraqi rowing," recalls Engeman. "We discussed what we could do to help."??

This meeting eventuated in a trip by Engeman and Boston's Community Rowing Inc. executive director Bruce Smith to Iraq. Engeman and Smith met with 22 oarsmen and seven coaches during their stay including 2008 Olympians Haeidr Hamarasheid and Hamza Hussein. ??

"When we came to Iraq we found a number that rowed quite well," says Engeman who noted that the training centre in Baghdad was well equipped with boats and rowing machines. Almost all of the rowers are students. "My sense is that none of these guys have been in the army." One is finishing a teaching degree and another is studying engineering. None of them are full time rowers, but they train twice a day. ??

Engeman was then instrumental in bringing the Iraqi national rowing team to the United States for training in their lead up to last month's Asian Games in China. The media interest and publicity that the Iraqi rowers received during their American stay took them all by surprise.??

"I think the courage of these guys grabbed the media's attention and because much of the press around Iraq is negative, so when the press found out about this story they were taken by it," says Engeman, "and what these guys said, people just fell in love with them."  ??

Recently four-time Olympic Champion, Sir Matthew Pinsent (GBR) went to Iraq as part of his job with the BBC News. Pinsent interviewed Haeidr Hamarasheid and Hamza Heussein who are part of the World Olympic Dreams project which means that they are two of 25 athletes from around the world that the BBC will follow as they aim for the 2012 London Olympics.  ??

Now Engeman is looking at 'what next'.  He does not rule out another trip to Iraq.  A Facebook page, 'Friends of Iraqi Rowing' keeps Engeman updated with the team's goings on.