The Czech Republic ace (pictured top) will be among leading international crews from her country, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland – all of which have been invited by the world governing body, FISA, to compete in four boat classes over a 450-metre course on the Limmat river.

The four classes are the men's single sculls (M1x), the women's single sculls (W1x), the men's quadruple sculls (M4x) and the lightweight men's four (LM4-).

Marcel Hacker of Germany, who won bronze at Sydney 2000 and was a finalist at London 2012, will be among the favourites for victory in the men's single sculls.

The Swiss and Dutch crews who finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the lightweight men's four final in London will race each other again in Zurich, along with crews from Germany and the Czech Republic.

In the men's quadruple sculls, Switzerland's Olympic crew of Augustin Maillefer, André Vonarburg, Nico Stahlberg and Florian Stofer will face a strong German crew that includes 2009 men's double sculls world champions Eric Knittel and Stephan Krueger.

The Swiss Olympic quadruple sculls team will be looking to uphold home honour in the 2012 Zurich City Sprints regatta

The regatta is built on the back of an annual rowing race which has taken place between Zurich University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Zurich since 1945.

This year's event is part of a concept of city sprint regattas intended to develop into a sprint series sanctioned by FISA over the coming years.

"Our aim is to bring the sport of rowing to the centre of cities, to the public," explained FISA executive director Matt Smith.

"By organising the 2012 Zurich City Sprints we hope to establish a new, first-class international sports event in Switzerland."

Spectators can watch the racing at no cost from the Limmatquai situated along the regatta course and a giant screen will also show the racing.

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