Rowing Australia launches #Passport2Paris

Rowing Australia is delighted to announce, with the support of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and Paralympics Australia (PA), a new Para-rowing pathway program, #Passport2Paris.

The primary focus of the program is to introduce new athletes to the sport of Para-rowing to help drive performance outcomes post-Tokyo 2020. While the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is one aspect of the program, it will also look to provide a foundation for future development and success in the long term, as the organisation looks towards the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.

#Passport2Paris will involve a series of Para-rowing camps, led by Head Para-Rowing Coach Gordon Marcks and supported by Paralympics Australia, focussing on Talent Identification and exploring opportunities in growth and development of female Para-rowing athletes (in all classifications). As well as the clear objectives to increase the participation and standard of the higher degree of impairment sport classes (PR1 and PR2).

Rowing Australia CEO, Ian Robson said, “The program provides Rowing Australia with significant opportunity to continue being a leader in using sport as a vehicle for inclusion and positive social change, in a context much broader than sport itself.

“The program will not only look to identify new athletes but also facilitate placement of athletes into environments where they will gain the necessary support and experiences needed to help develop into elite performers. The aim is for the program to provide athletes with a bridge between introduction to the sport of rowing into categorisation, and support in the National Institute Network (NIN).

“While the program looks to identify and develop rowers across the PR1, PR2 and PR3 categories, we are also looking to develop coaches within the NIN network to help support our developing para-rowing program.”

Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Officer, Lynne Anderson said, “We are supportive of all initiatives which expose Para-rowing to new participants to increase the depth of talent in the sport at all levels, with a particular focus on targeting each classification on the Paralympic Program.

“Importantly, the programs will be delivered by Rowing Australia with engagement and support at state level.  In addition to facilitating classification for athletes who participate in this program, PA will assist with engaging targeted impairment types and facilitating talent-transfer opportunities for athletes between sports. It’s an exciting project we are delighted to be involved with in close collaboration with our RA colleagues.”

AIS Chief Executive Officer, Peter Conde, said, “This is a brilliant initiative by Rowing Australia, and one which we are proud to support as part of our investment and commitment to developing and improving high-performance pathways.

“Success in high-performance sport is a long game, and it is critical that sports are investing in the next generation by identifying, developing, supporting and progressing talented athletes to achieve medal winning performances in the future.”

By: Rowing Australia
Posted: 6 August 2020