Swiss Proposal Would Limit Olympic Rowing Participation

If the Swiss have their way, countries would be limited to entering just 10 of 14 Olympic rowing classes. The proposal, which will be voted on by the 126-member FISA (the sports’ world governing body), is designed to give smaller nations an opportunity to qualify for the final heats.

Many oppose the measure, including John Coates, a member of the FISA Council as well and the International Olympic Committee. He told the Associated Press last week that in his view, the proposal would do limit to help international rowing.

Only one country–Australia–competed in all 14 rowing categories in Beijing last August. Germany and the US qualified for 13 events, Great Britain for 12, and China for 11.

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