A total of 1,000 athletes from 39 countries will take part in the European Rowing Championship for juniors under 23 to be held in Moscow July 29-August 1, the secretary general of the Russian Rowing Federation said on Wednesday.
“This is a record-breaking number of countries attending the championship in the history of the competitions,” Irina Sirayeva said.
The European Championship will be held at the Krylatskoe Rowing Canal and will include about 250 heats.
According to Mikhail Stepanyants, the head of the Moscow department of physical education and sports, the canal has been prepared for the competitions.
“We have made all the arrangements [necessary] for the spectators and athletes, as well as for their equipment,” he said.
He added that after the championship the canal will be reconstructed prior to the World Championship in 2012 and 2014.
According to Sergei Fyodorov, the senior Russian rowing team trainer, many competitors will represent Russia at the Summer Olympic Games in London in 2012 and in Rio-de-Janeiro in 2016.
“Forty percent of the Russian athletes which will participate in the championship will attend the World Championship in Poznan. We expect the Russian team to win 5-6 gold medals at the competitions in Moscow,” he said.
The European Rowing Championship for juniors and youth will be held as a part of the International forum Russia Is A Sports Power.
MOSCOW, July 21 (RIA Novosti)
