World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland was re-elected at the organisation’s virtual Congress ©World Rowing

World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland was re-elected at the organisation’s virtual Congress today, where the official confirmed the governing body’s approval of Long Beach as the venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games competition.

Rolland was the sole candidate for the World Rowing Presidency, with the French official now set to serve a third term in office having led the organisation since 2014.

A total of 105 votes were cast in the Presidential vote, with no abstentions or votes against Rolland.

Vice-president Tricia Smith and treasurer Gerritjan Eggenkamp, respectively from Canada and The Netherlands, were also elected unopposed.

The Congress confirmed the election of Guin Batten as Coastal Rowing Commission chair, Jacomine Ravensbergen as head of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission, and Serbia’s Filip Ljubicic to the Indoor Rowing Commission chair.

Rosie Mayglothling from Britain, Hungarian Eva Szanto and Patrick Rombaut of Belgium were re-elected as the three Council members on the Executive Committee.

A tribute was also paid to outgoing World Rowing executive director Matt Smith by the organisation's Honorary President Denis Oswald.

Smith is stepping down after 26 years in the role, with Switzerland's Vincent Gaillard due to succeed him in January.

Gaillard also addressed the virtual Congress.

During the Congress, Rolland revealed World Rowing’s Executive Committee had approved in principle a decision to move the proposed venue for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Los Angeles 2028 had originally proposed the Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County to host competition.

A proposed move to the Long Beach Marine Stadium, site of rowing at the 1932 Olympics, was mooted in 2019.

Long Beach has been provisionally approved by World Rowing for their Los Angeles 2028 venue ©Getty Images
Long Beach has been provisionally approved by World Rowing for their Los Angeles 2028 venue ©Getty Images

World Rowing said last year that studies would continue over a move, amid challenges with the Long Beach.

Long Beach would require a short course of 1,500 metres instead of the usual 2,000m, while the governing body evaluated whether the site could be impacted by tides due to its connection to the ocean.

Rolland said outcomes of the latest study had been “very positive”, leading to the World Rowing Council approving the venue.

The World Rowing President said Los Angeles 2028 were now working with the Long Beach City Council, with formal approval still required.

World Rowing has proposed to have coastal rowing added to the programme for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with three events suggested to replace two lightweight rowing categories.

The International Olympic Committee turned down the proposal last December citing potential costs and complexity for the venue at the Games.

IOC sport director Kit McConnell had offered encouragement over coastal rowing last year, saying there was "support for looking at the proposal to swap the lightweights for coastal rowing moving forwards."

Rolland confirmed World Rowing has maintained the proposal produced last year for mixed double sculls and men’s and women’s single coastal rowing events to replace the two lightweight double sculls events.

"Let me be clear, the discussions with the IOC, interrupted because of the pandemic have restarted," Rolland told the Congress.

"We have not changed our vision, nor have the IOC moved from their position on the weight category.

"We continue with our programme proposed at the Congress last year for three coastal events including mixed doubles.

"The IOC will decide the final event programme in December 2024, but we expected to have further guidance before then."

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