The beautiful city of Guangzhou is about to host a major sporting event — the 2017 Guangzhou International Elite Universities Rowing Competition & China Open Rowing Championships, jointly organized by the Chinese Rowing Association and the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, will take place from December 15 to 17.
The competition is divided into five segments: the Elite Universities Challenge, the National Team Elite Challenge, the Corporate Masters Challenge, the Legendary Athletes Challenge, and the Ergometer Race. The Elite Universities Challenge features top-tier universities from around the world. International participants include the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge from the UK, Yale University, Harvard University, and Columbia University from the US, the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney from Australia, and the University of Otago from New Zealand. All domestic teams come from China’s “Double First-Class” universities, including Peking University, Zhejiang University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xidian University, Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The Corporate Masters group is led by Wang Shi, Chairman of the Asian Rowing Federation, and Xu Shaochun, Chairman of the China Rowing Club Alliance. The Legendary Athletes group consists of former Olympic and Asian Games medalists as well as coaches and athletes who have made outstanding contributions to China’s rowing sport.
The lineup of participating universities and entrepreneur clubs is the strongest ever since rowing was introduced in China. To further enrich the event, elevate its level, and maximize its impact, the organizers have added an “Elite Challenge” to the original segments. Twenty-four of the best active national team rowers will be selected to compete in this event. This marks the first time in China that active national team athletes, retired world-class champions, international elite university teams, and civilian organizations will compete together. It will be a grand gathering and exchange event for China’s rowing community in Guangzhou, followed by an awards ceremony and cultural exchange event attended by both Chinese and international guests.
Notably, a China Sports Education Summit Forum will also be held during the event. Government officials, scholars, senior media professionals, and industry leaders from China and abroad engaged in sports and education will be invited to attend. Guests include leaders from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, Wang Shi, Chairman of the Asian Rowing Federation, Liu Aijie, Chairman of the Chinese Rowing Association, leaders from the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, Gao Jingping, President of the Guangdong Youth Sports Federation, Olympic and world champions, and professionals from renowned universities at home and abroad. Distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions to China’s sports development are also cordially invited to deliver keynote speeches. The forum will delve into topics such as how sports can help Chinese universities reach global standards and the vital role of rowing (and sports in general) in youth physical education and character building. The forum will be hosted by CCTV sports anchor Zhang Bin.