Nineteen years after those of cycling, on the occasion of century of life of his Rowing Club, Varese strongly wants the absolute World Rowing Championships. The desired appointment is that of 2027, “special” year for the world championship because the regattas will also serve to assign the majority of the Olympic cards for the Los Angeles Games the following year: a further reason to land the world championship on the banks of the Schiranna.
FROM THE MINISTER TO THE FEDERATION: EVERYONE WANTS IT
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The local committee – what we call Varese Rowing – has been working on it for some time candidacy made official today. There are two essential external “keys”, that of federal support (easy) e that of the Ministry, certainly more complicated. But the green light has arrived from Rome in rapid times, as the mayor Davide Galimberti (who is also the president of the organizing committee) also underlined, speaking of “significant support”. Andrea Abodi, owner of the sports department, gave guarantees for 3 million of euros giving a strong boost to the project. There Rowing Federation could only further support Schiranna, and the presence of the president (and symbolic man) is therefore no coincidence Giuseppe Abbagnale alongside the Varese authorities: «Few nations can boast the naturalistic and technical characteristics of the regatta field that are here: everyone knows it and it is an added value».
ITALY YES, ITALY NO
Abbagnale wants it cancel, under his mandate, a sort of “veto” for the World Cup in Italy which arrived after the last edition in our country, that of 2003 at the Milan seaplane base which had some organizational problems and some post-event shortcomings (public funds never arrived) which distanced the international oar from the Bel Paese. «Thanks to the presidents who preceded me and thanks to Varese’s commitment, with the 2012 European Championships, Italy returned to the scene of regattas high level. Since then, every year, the Federation has acquired greater relevance at World Rowing and the results are in. Now let’s try with the World Cup and we are very confidenta bit like when I rowed: we will do everything to be ready for the race and “row” to the best of our ability.”
TOUGH OPPONENTS
For the 2027 World Championship, Varese will apparently have to contend with two important rowing cities, the Swiss Lucerne and the Slovenian Bled, also often involved in the international calendar. To face the competition Schiranna can count on some recognized qualities and on some cards held by Varese Rowing: among the first we put the infrastructure already existing, the proximity to Malpensa And prices which – compared to the Swiss location – are undoubtedly more inviting for foreign delegations. In the second ones, however, i are i relationships established with the many federations who choose Varesotto (Schiranna but also Gavirate, Monate, Corgeno…) and Lombardy as the base of their national teams. Friendships that at the time of the vote – scheduled for November – they could count a lot of.
FROM THE LAKE TO THE CITY – Compared to the other events held here in the last fifteen years (European Championships, World Cup, Youth World Cup and Masters…), for the Absolute World Championships some interventions are necessary next to the race course. But the Varese 2027 project is even broader. Let’s start from Schiranna where they are needed stands for a total of 4 thousand seats (between blankets and discoveries, between those for the authorities, the federations and the public) and where, as a novelty, a Rowers Arena, amphitheater equipped with a giant screen reserved only for athletes and technicians to view the races live. Naturally, the structures already present will remain in use, important and far-sighted investments (just think of the arrival tower and the rowing gym) which allow us to keep the budget. The expected one is 4.5 million of euros (in Belgrade 2023 it was 6 million but, in fact, essential infrastructures that Varese already possesses were created).
Another big news will be the Rowing Village – Medal Plaza at the Giardini Estensi: a village dedicated to the World Cup with spaces commercial and of entertainment. The evening awards ceremony will take place there (the medals will be awarded on the lake, but the complete ceremony will take place in the Gardens) accompanied by eating areas and entertainment events. music and entertainment that can involve Varese residents and guests in the city for the regattas. To connect the two areas, lake and centre, a Shuttle Service capable of moving the audience from time to time.
THE NUMBERS
Compared to the World Cup, the format of the World Cup is broader: yes in fact they are divided into 8 days (between the end of August and the beginning of September) and for this reason the national present (there are assume 80from giants to micro-teams) will remain in the area for about two weeks each generating a huge (by local standards) number of overnight stays. The finals will be played over four days and, to give a figure, 40 international broadcasters are expected. This is also why Varese Rowing has already activated all contacts with the trade associations in the tourism sector which, explained councilor Ivana Perusin, they have responded enthusiastically and who will do their part between now and November. And then, if successful, in the three years to come.
