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{{Short description|International rowing governing body}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox sport governing body
|name         = World Rowing
|abbrev       = WR, FISA
|logo         = World Rowing Federation logo.svg
|logosize     = 280px
|sport        = [[Rowing (sport)|Rowing]]
|category     = [[List of international sports federations|Sports federation]]
|image        =
|caption      =
|jurisdiction = Worldwide
|founded      = {{Start date and age|1892|6|25|df=y}} in [[Turin]], Italy
|aff          =
|affdate      =
|region       =
|regionyear   =
|headquarters =[[Lausanne]], Switzerland
|location     =
|president    =[[Jean-Christophe Rolland]]
|chairman     =
|chairperson  =
|chair        =
|chiefexec    =
|vicepresident =[[Tricia Smith]]
|director     =
|secretary    =
|key staff    =
|operating income =
|sponsor      =
|url          = https://worldrowing.com/
|countryflag  =
|countryflag2 =
|countryflag3 =
|more         =  
|membership=157}}

'''World Rowing''', also known as the '''World Rowing Federation''' (officially '''FISA'''; {{langx|fr|Fédération internationale des sociétés d'aviron}}{{efn|According to the organization's bylaws, the name remains ''Fédération internationale des sociétés d'aviron'', but "World Rowing is the designation used operationally by FISA"<ref>{{cite web |title=World Rowing – World Rowing Rule Book – EN |url=https://worldrowing.com/technical/rules/2021-rule-book/ |website=World Rowing |language=en}}</ref>}}), is the international [[sport governing body|governing body]] for [[rowing (sport)|rowing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldrowing.com/about/ |title=World Rowing  |access-date=8 April 2021}}</ref> Its current president is [[Jean-Christophe Rolland]] who succeeded [[Denis Oswald (sports official)|Denis Oswald]] at a ceremony held in [[Lucerne]] in July 2014.

The [[World Rowing Cup]], [[World Rowing Championships]], and other such competitions are overseen by this organization.

== History ==
===General===
It was founded by rowing representatives from [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Belgium]], Adriatica, and [[Italy]] on 25 June 1892 in [[Turin]] in response to the growing popularity of the sport of rowing, and the consequent need for uniformity of regulations over such matters as race lengths, boat composition, and weight classes.  Also, at the time, betting on rowing was very popular, and the rowers or coaches were themselves often taking bets.  Amateur status, while widespread in England and elsewhere, was unknown in the sport in many nations, a state of affairs which could lead to corruption such as thrown races.

The first regatta organised by the newly formed FISA was the [[European Rowing Championships]] and was held in 1893 in [[Lake Orta|Orta, Italy]].  It only had 10 entries in 3 events and no professional participants.  By 1925, the 27th European Championships, held in [[Prague]], included 24 entries in 10 different events.

FISA established its headquarters in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland in 1922.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int@fisa.html |title=International Rowing Federation |publisher=CRW Flags |language=en |access-date=8 November 2015}}</ref>

FISA was the first international sports federation to join the [[Olympic Games|Olympic movement]].  It has been on the Olympic program since the [[1896 Summer Olympics]] in [[Athens]]. (The rowing events at the 1896 games were cancelled because of high winds). Each country that participates in rowing has a federation or governing body which belongs to the ''World Rowing Congress''.  These federations (of which there are currently 157)<ref name="About FISA">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/fisa/ |title=About FISA |website=WorldRowing.com |publisher=World Rowing Federation |quote=The World Rowing Federation, FISA (from the French, Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron) is the governing body of the sport of rowing |access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> have overall control of what World Rowing does.

FISA decided in 1955 that only a united German team could compete at international rowing championships; this first applied to [[European Rowing Championships|European Championships]] and later, from the inaugural in 1962 onwards, to [[World Rowing Championships|World Championships]]. This required that East and West Germany held selection trials, with the winning country for each boat class choosing the rowers who would compete at the championships. Over the years, the relationship between the two German countries deteriorated, and East Germany made seven application to FISA congresses to be recognised as a separate and independent country.<ref>{{cite news |title=Erwartungen |url=http://zefys.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ddr-presse/ergebnisanzeige/?purl=SNP26120215-19650824-0-2-20-0 |access-date=3 February 2018 |work=[[Berliner Zeitung]] |volume=21 |issue=232 |date=24 August 1965 |page=2 |language=de |url-access=registration}}</ref> On the seventh occasion, there was insufficient time to discuss the issue at the congress held in [[Duisburg]] just prior to the men's competition of the [[1965 European Rowing Championships]]. FISA president [[Thomas Keller (rower)|Thomas Keller]] stated that an extraordinary congress were to be held in November in [[Vienna]] that would discuss the issue, and that he personally saw no problem with solving the problems.<ref>{{cite news |title=Für zwei Ruder-Mannschaften |url=http://zefys.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ddr-presse/ergebnisanzeige/?purl=SNP2612273X-19650826-0-7-71-0 |access-date=3 February 2018 |work=[[Neue Zeit (East Germany)|Neue Zeit]] |volume=20 |issue=199 |date=26 August 1965 |page=7 |language=de |url-access=registration}}</ref> In October 1965, the [[International Olympic Committee]] decided that East Germany was to have its own team at future [[Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Heute FISA-Kongreß |url=http://zefys.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ddr-presse/ergebnisanzeige/?purl=SNP26120215-19651113-0-7-259-0 |access-date=3 February 2018 |work=[[Berliner Zeitung]] |volume=21 |issue=313 |date=13 November 1965 |page=7 |language=de |url-access=registration}}</ref> At the FISA congress in November 1965, the East German application found forty-six votes of support, four abstentions (from Germany and Austria), and no votes of disapproval.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ruderer mit eigener Mannschaft |url=http://zefys.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ddr-presse/ergebnisanzeige/?purl=SNP2532889X-19651114-0-1-233-0 |access-date=3 February 2018 |work=[[Neues Deutschland]] |volume=20 |issue=314 |date=14 November 1965 |page=1 |language=de |url-access=registration}}</ref> At the same congress, Keller's proposal to not play national anthems or raise flags during medal ceremonies was also approved.<ref>{{cite news |title=Längst überfällig ... |url=http://zefys.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/ddr-presse/ergebnisanzeige/?purl=SNP2532889X-19651115-0-4-77-0&highlight=FISA%7C1965%7C11 |access-date=3 February 2018 |work=[[Neues Deutschland]] |volume=20 |issue=315 |date=15 November 1965 |page=4 |language=de |url-access=registration}}</ref> These changes first applied at the [[1966 European Rowing Championships|European Championships]] (for women) in August 1966 and then the [[1966 World Rowing Championships|World Championships]] (for men) two weeks later in September.

In response to the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], World Rowing banned athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from international competitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1123692/postiglione-russia-coaching|title=World Rowing coaching director Postiglione ends association with Russia|date=27 May 2022|website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref> A year later, it started a working group tasked with reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1133929/fisa-paris-2024-consultation-russia | title=FISA to consult members over Russian and Belarusian inclusion at Paris 2024 | date=20 February 2023 }}</ref>

===Presidents===
FISA is led by a president. The following list gives presidents since 1924:
* 1924–1926 [[Eugène Baud]], Switzerland
* 1926–1949 [[Rico Fioroni]], Switzerland
* 1949–1958 [[Gaston Mullegg]], Switzerland
* 1958–1989 [[Thomas Keller (rower)|Thomas Keller]], Switzerland
* 1989–2014 [[Denis Oswald (sports official)|Denis Oswald]], Switzerland
* 2014–present [[Jean-Christophe Rolland]], France

==Membership== 
At the 2022 Ordinary Congress, World Rowing admitted its 157th member.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 FISA Member National Federations |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/mm//Document/General/General/14/15/96/2019_NFList_InceptionDates_Neutral.pdf |publisher=FISA |access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref> {{Further|:Category:National members of World Rowing}}

== Events ==
World Rowing organises a large number of international rowing events throughout the year.

===Olympics===
{{main|Rowing at the Summer Olympics}}
World Rowing has been sponsoring the program for rowing events at the Olympic games since the initial Olympic games in 1896 in Athens.  It is also responsible for running the qualification program to select the participants for the games.

=== Paralympics ===
World Rowing has been sponsoring the program for rowing events at the Paralympic games since the [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Paralympic Games]] in Beijing.  It is also responsible for running the qualification program to select the participants for the games.

===World Rowing Cup===
{{main|World Rowing Cup}}
Started in 1997, the World Cup comprises three regattas held in late Spring and early Summer.

===World Rowing Championships===
{{main|World Rowing Championships}}
A week-long regatta held every year.  During Olympic years, only non-Olympic boat classes race.

===World Rowing Under 19 Championships===
{{main|World Rowing Junior Championships}}
Running since 1967, the World Rowing Junior Championships is for those who are under 18 by the end of the current calendar year.  During Olympic years it is held at the same time as the [[World Rowing Championships]]. Since 2021, the name 'Under 19' has been used instead of 'Junior'.

===World Rowing Under 23 Championships===
{{main|World Rowing U23 Championships}}
First held in 1976, this regatta is for those too old for the Junior Championships but who do not turn 23 by the end of the current calendar year (previously categorised as ''Senior B'' by FISA). The event was originally named the ''Nations Cup'' and opposed by FISA. In 2002 the name was changed to the ''World Rowing U23 Regatta'' and further changed to ''[[World Rowing U23 Championships]]'' in 2005.

===World Rowing Coastal Championships===
{{Main|World Rowing Coastal Championships}}
First held in 2006. Races are help over 4&nbsp;km and 6&nbsp;km courses in coastal specific boat. Can include beach starts and finishes.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/coastal/ |title=Coastal/Tour |website=Worldrowing.com |access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref>

===World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals===
First held in 2019 in Shenzhen, China. Races are started on a beach with the athlete running to their boat, before rowing a 250m slalom, then turning 180° at the far end and returning to the beach in a straight line. Upon reaching the beach the athlete leaves the boats and runs and dives to a buzzer on the ground.<ref name="auto" />

Editions:

* 2019 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Shenzhen, China
* 2021 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Oeiras, Portugal
* 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Pembrokeshire, Great Britain
* 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Barletta, Italy
* 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Genoa, Italy

===World Rowing Indoor Championships===
World Rowing, in partnership with Concept2, USRowing and the Erg Sprints organising committee of Alexandria, Virginia, United States, announced the first World Rowing Indoor Championships to be staged in Alexandria from 17 to 18 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/news/the-first-world-rowing-indoor-championships-announced |title=The first World Rowing Indoor Championships announced |website=Worldrowing.com |access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref>

Editions:

* 2018 World Rowing Indoor Championship – Alexandria, Virginia, USA
* 2019 World Rowing Indoor Championship – Long Beach, California, USA
* 2020 World Rowing Indoor Championship – Paris, France
* 2021 World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championship – this event was held virtually
* 2022 World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championship – this event was supposed to take place in Hamburg, Germany, but was made to be completely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic
* 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championship – Mississauga, Toronto, Canada
* 2023 World Rowing Indoor Championship – Prague, Czech Republic

===World Rowing Masters Regatta===
Held since 1973, this event is for rowers 27 years of age or over.  Men and women compete in age categories ranging from "A" (27 to 35) to "K" (85 and older).  The largest annual international regatta, in 2013 it attracted approximately 3500 competitors who competed in 440 races over four days.   There are also events for mixed crews – where half the crew is men and half women (excluding cox). The 2010 regatta took place in St. Catharines, [[Ontario]], Canada, 2011 in [[Poznań|Poznan]], Poland, 2012 in [[Duisburg]], Germany, 2013 in [[Varese]], Italy, 2014 in [[Ballarat]], Australia, 2015 in Hazewinkel, Belgium, 2016 in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, 2017 in [[Bled]], Slovenia, 2018 in [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]], Florida, USA, and 2019 in Lake Valence, Hungary.  Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the 2020 regatta was a virtual competition on [[indoor rower]]s. The 2021 regatta will be in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, 2022 in [[Libourne]], France, 2023 in [[Pretoria]], South Africa, and 2024 in [[Brandenburg]], Germany. 

In 2025 the regatta is in Banyoles, Spain... 10–14 September.

===World Rowing Sprints===
A new idea introduced in 2002 as an attempt to bring rowing to the centre of cities.  The first (and only) event took place on the [[Serpentine (lake)|Serpentine Lake]] in [[Hyde Park, London]] and was sponsored by [[Mercedes-Benz]]. Crews from Great Britain, United States, Germany, and the Netherlands took part in the 500 m race. Famous rowing champions raced, including [[Matthew Pinsent]], [[James Cracknell]], and [[Marcel Hacker]].

Each team was made up of 13 rowers (5 women, 7 men, and a cox). Events were held in Women's Single Sculls, Men's Single Sculls, Women's Double Sculls, Men's Pairs, Women's Pairs and Men's Fours.  These crews then combined to form Mixed Quad Sculls and Eights.

Great Britain were the eventual winners and crowned the ''Mercedes-Benz Sprints Champions''.

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal bar|Sports}}}}
* [[Thomas Keller Medal]] – awarded annually by World Rowing to a rower(s) with an outstanding international career

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://worldrowing.com}}

{{International Sports Federations}}
{{National members of the World Rowing Federation}}
{{Rowing (sport)}}
{{Rowing Competitions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:World Rowing| ]]
[[Category:Rowing governing bodies|*]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1892]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Lausanne|Row]]
[[Category:International sports organisations based in Switzerland|Row]]
[[Category:Association of Summer Olympic International Federations|rowing]]