The trend is strengthening. Like several other bodies in the Olympic movement, the International Rowing Federation (World Rowing) is choosing hybrid mode for its indoor world championships. She announces that the next edition, scheduled for Hamburg (Germany) on February 25 and 26, 2022, will take place both virtually and in person. Competitors will have the choice between appearing in person at the Edel-Optics.de Arena, or competing virtually from anywhere in the world. Places for virtual competitors will be limited, explains World Rowing, applicants will have to qualify through a selection process, which will be announced in July 2021. The decision to organize the Indoor Worlds in a hybrid format was taken not only in anticipation of possible travel restrictions in early 2022, but also to continue to explore possibilities for in-person and virtual competitions for indoor rowing. Explanation from Jean-Christophe Rolland, the president of World Rowing: “ The success of going virtual for the 2021 World Indoor Championships provided the impetus to bring virtual to the 2022 event in Hamburg. A hybrid model gives an even more international dimension to the event. It offers everyone the opportunity to participate, whether at the Hamburg location or remotely from anywhere in the world. » World Rowing specifies: the 2022 Worlds could however be held entirely in virtual mode if health conditions did not allow the event to be organized in Hamburg.
