World Rowing Event Decision for 18 May 2021
2021 World Rowing Masters Regatta is confirmed
Protecting the health and reducing the chance of infection for all participants is the priority for all World Rowing events. Following extensive discussions with all key stakeholders, the World Rowing Executive Committee has verified that the preparations of the Organising Committee (OC) of the 2021 WRMR conforms to the World Rowing requirements for 2021 regattas. Therefore, with the approval of the World Rowing Executive Committee, we are pleased to confirm that the regatta will take place in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria from 1 to 5 September 2021.
Depending on the state of the pandemic, the regulations and restrictions for entry into Austria could change. It would be the individual participant’s responsibility to check for themselves the entry restrictions from their home country to Austria. The latest information about entry restrictions to Austria can be found here on this Austrian Government link: https://www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations
The decision-making framework for World Rowing events during the pandemic assesses two key considerations: first, the ability of the organising committee and the host city to still stage the event in the current circumstances and, second, the full commitment of the organising committee and host city to implement the strict covid-19 transmission mitigation measures required by World Rowing’s “Return to Regattas” guidelines.
The OC has prepared a Covid-19 response plan (link here) which has been ratified by the Linz-Ottensheim and Upper Austria authorities, and follows the guidance of the World Health Organisation and the World Rowing Sports Medicine Commission’s “Return to Regattas” guidelines (Return to Regattas guidelines found here). These additional preventative measures for such a large event cause some significant additional and unanticipated costs for the OC. Therefore, World Rowing has approved the OC request for an exceptional “safe event” accreditation charge of Euro 10 per seat to be added to cover these additional costs.
Each participant is responsible to exercise maximum care for themselves and their club and crew members before, during and after the event. All participants must follow the measures in the OC Covid-19 Protection Plan at all times, including the wearing of masks at all times except in the boat, on an ergometer or at meals, social distancing and regular disinfection, among the other measures published by the OC. In addition to meeting any local government requirements, each participant at the regatta will be required to complete a Pre-Event Health Questionnaire and present a valid negative Covid-19 test result (antigen taken within 48 hours or PCR test taken within 72 hours). The questionnaire and the valid negative test result would need to be presented at the Venue Entrance check point.
To protect the health of all participants, anyone not adhering to the participation conditions will be immediately disqualified and excluded from the event, at the discretion of the World Rowing Executive Committee
Entries can be made for the regatta via Regatta Central System: Entry Sytem Link
Please note the key deadlines and refund policies
- Opening of the entries: 20 May 16:00 CET
- Closing of the entries: 31 July, 23:59 CET
- Refund policies
- Voluntary withdrawal before 31 July, full refund (minus 3.5% processing fee)
- In the unlikely event of a late cancellation of the event because of a change in regulation by the Austrian Government authorities for organization of mass participation events in Austria – full refund (minus 3.5% processing fee)
- If a participant is not able to participate because of specific lockdowns/exit restrictions/entry quarantine restrictions from their home country but the regatta is going ahead, no refund.
Matt Smith
Executive Director
