Rowing: World champs bid still on course

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Craig Ross is positively fizzing that Lake Karapiro is on course to host the 2010 world championships.

Ross returned yesterday from a world rowing forum in Istanbul, Turkey, where the New Zealand bid team, including world and Olympic champion twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, had generated a lot of interest.

He said that Rowing New Zealand would complete its application to host the event by January, six months before world governing body FISA determines the hosts.

"I'm more confident than ever," Ross said. "I had lengthy discussions with each of the eight FISA council members in great detail and I sense a real strong feel of support for New Zealand.

"We've certainly made our point to the international community that New Zealand is very serious about this bid and we've stressed that Lake Karapiro can deliver a world class regatta."

Three FISA representatives would visit the Waikato lake in March to check its condition, travel issues and whether the proposed regatta base, Hamilton, could provide sufficient accommodation.

Ross said he was confident that infrastructure targets would be reached.

Up to 800 athletes would compete at the championships, yet the annual Maadi Cup secondary school regatta had previously attracted up to 2000 rowers.

The next step was to compile an economic benefit package to demonstrate what the regatta event could be worth to New Zealand.

Ross said he would seek underwriting assistance from the Government and local government and was buoyed by the Government's support of this country's 2011 World Cup rugby bid.

New Zealand's three rivals will be Penrith in Australia, Bled in Slovenia and Prague in the Czech Republic.

Ross said Penrith was the only realistic rival, as there was a strong push to take the regatta out of Europe.

Australia hosted the championship in 2000 and 1990 as part of an apparent 10-year cycle.

"We think we're in a strong position because Australia have had a strong crack of the whip," Ross said.

It is 27 years since New Zealand last hosted the event, and the fact it was at Lake Karapiro then was an advantage, Ross believed.

"There are some fond memories from the 1978 championships among the international rowing community.

"Four of the FISA council members, who are decision-makers at the end of the day, were at Karapiro and actually won medals there."

Ross said the icing on the New Zealand bid cake came at an awards ceremony last week where a large video screen replayed the winning performances from this year's world championships in Japan.

New Zealand rowers dominated the first morning, winning four gold medals.

- NZPA