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The best athletes in the rowing world have competed in Belgrade, while for the Paraolympians this was a qualification regatta for the London 2012 Summer Olympics.
When all the best world athletes in a sport are coming to one country, now that’s a true sport spectacle. That is the opportunity to see Olympic, world and European champions at their best, that is the opportunity for foreigners to get to know a new culture – in this case our country, as Belgrade hosted the first World Rowing Cup at Ada Ciganlija, from 4th to 6th of May.
The World Rowing Cup is the biggest and most important rowing competition, “bigger” than the Olympics and the World Championships.
The competitors previously selected for the next Olympics, as well as those still looking for their place in their national teams and the qualifications for the Olympic Games in London (June 27th – August 12th), tried their luck in Belgrade.
For rowers with disabilities this World Cup, first this season, was at the same time the qualifications for the Paralympics that will take place in the capital city of Great Britain (August 29th – September 9th). It is obvious that Belgrade became a world capital of rowing at least for a while at the beginning of May.
– In 2010 Belgrade was elected the host city for this competition, and it was a great honor for us and a confirmation to truly great work done by the Rowing Federation of Serbia and our rowers’ successes in year 2000. The biggest challenge was to prepare the infrastructure for such an important competition, and due to the fact that everything was done under the patronage of the city of Belgrade and with great help from the Ministry of youth and sport, we managed to meet this challenge – says the General Secretary of the Rowing Federation of Serbia Nebojša Jevremović for Serbia.com.
More importantly, having completed the infrastructure for the World Cup, our capital city has set the foundations for all following rowing competitions in Serbia.
– With regular refurbishment of the infrastructure we will be able to candidate for all big competitions. This is important for the reputation of our country in the world, for the development of the rowing sport, for economy and tourism of the capital city… We have already applied for the organization of the European Championship in 2014 and I’m certain that this organization of the World Cup is bringing us a step closer to the realization of that goal – Jevremović concluded.
From the competitors’ point of view, this was a very important regatta will be very interesting for us, because it was one of the last major events before London Olympics.
– Like for all other national teams, for us as well this was the greatest test before upcoming competitions. We have already gained two Olympic norms, and its up to us now to get the rowers that will represent Serbia in London as well prepared as they can get – said Nebojša Ilić, the coach and manager of the national team for Serbia.com.
Why is The World cup more important than Olympics and The World Championships?
Rowing rules are simple – only one crew can represent a country in one discipline at the Olympics and the World Championship, while at the World Cups all the best national crews compete for that one position in the Olympics or World Championships.
World rowing superpowers – Germany, Austria, New Zealand or Great Britain, often have two, and sometimes three, crews in pair or quad that are better than all others in the world, but only one crew can compete at the Olympics and World Championship – so at the World Cups the coaches decide who will enter the representation as the best rowers in the world compete at the World Cup.
Photo gallery: www.serbian-rowing.org.rs
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