The World Rowing Indoor Championships started last weekend. A 100% virtual event, which will continue on February 22 and 23 with the 2000 meters and sprint relay events. With high-flying performances, four world records broken and a large participation, including that ofan Australian couple in their eighties, the International Rowing Federation (World Rowing) welcomed the opening of these World Championships. " In 2024, participation in virtual and hybrid indoor rowing events has exploded, with more athletes than ever competing from home, club or gym. The 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships, presented by Concept 2, have further demonstrated this growth, with a record number of athletes participating in this entirely virtual competition », it points out in a press release.
1 400 participants are registered this year, a record for fully virtual indoor World Championships. For comparison, there were 1.100 in 2022 under the same conditions. Last year, the event was organized in a hybrid format: it brought together 2.300 participants, 80% of whom were gathered at the O2 Arena in Prague. “We are seeing a fundamental shift in the way people engage with sport, and indoor rowing is at the forefront of this transformation, underlines Jean-Christophe Rolland, the president of World Rowing. With indoor/connected rowing, we can offer athletes of all levels the opportunity to compete, engage and push their limits in a way never before possible. Our eSports Olympics bid fits perfectly into this mission." The event will take place in 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
