The 2006 World Rowing Championships will be without another country as more visas were refused by the British visa authorities.

The five countries that cannot participate due to visa difficulties are: Morocco, Kenya, Nigeria, Moldova and Cameroon. International Rowing Federation (FISA) executive director Matt Smith commented, “This is a big blow for the FISA Development Programme, especially for Africa after special identification development camps took place in South Africa and Tunisia this past winter.”

Instead of eight African countries participating and 65 countries in total, the World Rowing Championships are now down to four African countries and 60 nations.

The latest bad news was Moldovan single sculler Evgeni Ignatov. He was refused a visa by the British embassy because, reported through a translator, “he comes from Tiraspol which has some terrorist activity.” Matt Smith argued “my wife comes from Tiraspol so, theoretically, she would not be able to attend the Championships and serve as a translator at the FISA Congress next week”.

Egypt has been forced to pay over 900 Egyptian pounds (approximately 100 pounds sterling) per visa for their delegation of 21 people.

Smith cited a multitude of reasons for the visas not being granted: a late visa request in one case, increased requirements for applicants, a new requirement of personal interviews, stretched staff at many British embassies, and many other reasons. It is known that in some countries a special sport visa office has been established to help prevent these types of issues from happening but British authorities have not been willing to consider this idea.