Oswald, a senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, has contacted Patrick Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), seeking rowing's involvement following pressure on him from national federations who want to be part of the Games.

Two years ago Oswald, then President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), wrote to Hickey claiming he "could not support any project to create a EOC Games in the foreseeable future".

But now rowing looks ready to join the 17 sports already announced, with athletics and boxing also set to join the programme, as long as a suitable venue can be built.

"FISA President Denis Oswald has had several calls from European National Federations and National Olympic Committees encouraging him to make contact with Patrick Hickey, President of the European Association of National Olympic Committees, about rowing's possible inclusion in the European Games, in the first edition or later," Matt Smith, executive director of FISA, told insidethegames.

"Despite the proposed dates for the Games [June 2015], right in the middle of the extremely important Olympic qualification period for rowing, Denis Oswald has indicated that the sport of rowing is ready to consider a proposal for inclusion."

Rowing's inclusion in the Games would help boost the quality of the event as it is one of Europe's strongest Olympic sports.

At last year's Olympics in London 25 of the 42 medals were won by European countries, including eight of the 14 gold, with Britain finishing top of the medals table for the second consecutive Games.


FISA is now working with Baku 2015 to try to find a suitable venue to accommodate the sport.

"We understand that there is no established rowing venue in Baku and this was a major consideration for sports in these Games," said Smith.