World Rowing officials hail Shanghai championships

World Rowing Federation officials lauded Shanghai's successful hosting of the World Rowing Championships, marking the event's first appearance in China, at a media conference on Thursday.

"We are very thrilled and happy to come to Shanghai. The preparations behind this event have been huge but great," said World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland, expressing satisfaction with the venue's organization and facilities.

"The feedback we've received from athletes, coaches and teams has been excellent. From a pure sporting perspective, the conditions are excellent, including the field of play and all the infrastructure around the rowing course," Rolland said. "The organizing committee is performing well, and we look forward to witnessing exciting final days."

The president views the championship as a platform for promoting rowing in China. "We have been preparing this event and trying to promote the event through different channels that will lead to more participation, especially children, in this sport," he said.

"We do expect a great sporting legacy in rowing for the future, because rowing will be more visible in this country, and this event is really a good way to start this process," he added.

"It's been a long and positive journey with the organizing committee, which includes both the Shanghai administration and Donghao Lansheng company," Vincent Gaillard, executive director of World Rowing, reflected on the preparation process. "We are discussing certain legacy initiatives for the future, one of which we will announce shortly next week."

The federation's engagement with China will extend beyond the current championships. "We're looking forward to bringing more events to Shanghai and China in general. We're particularly keen to engage with the Chinese rowing association and various cities across the country."

The federation also announced its commitment to cooperate with the upcoming National Games in November, providing technical expertise for both classic rowing and beach sprint rowing, the latter being a new Olympic discipline set to debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Beyond the immediate impact of the championships, World Rowing outlined its broader strategic vision for the sport's future. "We're working to enhance viewer experience through various technological improvements," Gaillard explained. "This includes drone coverage, which we've implemented over the past two years, and we're exploring possibilities for more on-boat cameras, along with enhanced data integration in broadcasts."