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PULLING TOGETHER LIKE NEVER BEFORE...

During the pandemic, one sporting group, has NOT cancelled and is moving forward with its annual championship event. The solution: Compete from home!

On January 30th the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships annual competition for indoor rowing - which has been held continuously for 38 years in Canada will carry on in real time. Over700 athletes, spanning the globe, will connect their rowing machine in their basements, garages or living rooms with a cable to the internet and “line up” at the virtual starting line for their race. The championships will be live streamed on Youtube. Racing starts at 9:00 AM EST on Sunday.

Concept2, the manufacturer of the “ergometer” also called a “rower” or indoor rowing machine makes it possible to compare individual scores generated by its flywheel right down to the millisecond. A software platform developed by Time-Team from the Netherlands makes it possible to put everyone into virtual races. Athletes have signed up for 2000 metre or 500 metre events, and 1 minute and 4 minute events with the hope of winning the title of fastest among their age group or classification. Some are going for a World record.

“People who have registered have told us over and over how much they appreciate the opportunity to bring the community together again at this race. What makes this year even more exciting is our designation as a sanctioned event in th qualification to the 2022 World Rowing Indoor Championships. This gives competitors more incentive to keep on rowing after our event and adds international flavour to our competition.” – Susan Kitchen, Chair Organizing Committee, CIRC 2022

The competitors representing different countries range in age from 13 to 95 years old.

Hosting CIRC 2022 is another step in preparation for the 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championships. In 2023, World Rowing will see its annual event on Canadian soil. " We are fully aware of the big upswing in indoor rowing due to lockdowns and the Pandemic and we want to see everyone show us what they’ve been doing,” says World Rowing Executive Director Matt Smith. “Also a big thank you to the Canadian Indoor Rowing Association for hosting this event and to Rowing Canada Aviron for their support. Worldwide virtual indoor rowing competitions have been a new experience for all involved and we are incredibly impressed at how it has all come together. As Canada is hosting the 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championships, this will be a great experience in the preparation.”

“This is an exciting time for our sport. Indoor rowing opens up so many new opportunities for rowers and fitness enthusiasts alike. Even during a global pandemic, we are able to gather virtually for some friendly competition and opportunities to use their score for the 2022 World Indoor Rowing Championships,” said Carol Purcer, RCA President. “The Canadian Indoor Rowing Association have decades of experience and we have full confidence that they will deliver an outstanding virtual event again. Best of luck to all the competitors and I look forward to tuning in

World Rowing announced in July 2020 that Toronto-Mississauga was selected out of a competitive bid process to host the World Rowing Indoor Championships in 2023. The local organizing committee is looking forward to this opportunity.

For media inquiries – please contact:

Colleen Coderre

Media Lead – Rowing Canada Aviron

coderre@rowingcanada.org

@CIRCRaceControl @cdnindoorrowing #cdnindoorrowing