Dorney to Host 2006 World Championships
16th September 2002by ROB BURGESS
GREAT BRITAIN has won the right to stage the 2006 World Rowing Championships following the Congress of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) on the eve of this year’s world championships in Seville, Spain, on Saturday.
UK Sport has committed £1.15million - the largest ever award from its World Class Events Programme – towards the costs of hosting the event, which will take place on a newly extended course on Dorney Lake in Eton.
Last month, the Council of FISA recommended that the championships be awarded to Plovdiv in Bulgaria. But delegates at the Congress took the unusual step of voting, by secret ballot, to reject the Council’s original proposal, resulting in an open election. After Poland’s bid was eliminated in the first round, Britain obtained the majority vote necessary, attracting 92 votes to Bulgaria’s 53.
"We are delighted with the decision", said Diana Ellis, Chairman of the Amateur Rowing Association (ARA).
"We will deliver a World Championships which is fair and good for all the athletes and will work not only in 2006 but along the way to use this event to promote the sport of rowing.”
"This is great news for rowing and great news for Britain,” added John Scott, Director of International Relations and Major Events at UK Sport.
“Rowing is one of our four top priority sports and we are delighted to give the opportunity to showcase our athletes at Dorney in 2006. We are confident that the ARA will organise one of the best World Championships of the modern era on this new course.”
Also at the Congress, two British post-holders, supported by UK Sport through the International Representatives' Grant Aid Programme, were re-elected as Chairmen of their respective specialist commissions.
Mike Sweeney continues as Chairman of the Events Commission whilst Peter Morrison will serve another term as Chairman of the Masters Commission.