World Rowing is making a bold move into the eSports arena by announcing the 2025 World Indoor Rowing Championships, which will be held entirely in virtual mode. Partnering with Concept2, this groundbreaking event will take place in February 2025, spanning two weekends and engaging competitors in real-time across five continents.
This innovative competition is set to attract elite athletes, amateur rowers, and fitness enthusiasts alike. The qualification process kicks off in November 2024, running until January 2025. The top 150 rowers in each gender and weight category from different continental time zones will advance to the elimination rounds, ultimately narrowing the field to the top 50 athletes who will battle it out in the semi-finals. Only the top 20 in each category will earn a spot in the final showdown.
Titles will be awarded across all age groups, from juniors to masters, with new events like university, school, and professional category relays also debuting. A 5 km long-distance race will add to the excitement.
Looking ahead, World Rowing plans to launch a new virtual series throughout 2025, culminating in the "Versa Challenge Finals" in person later in the year. In a significant step for the sport, the organization is also working towards including indoor rowing in the first eSports Olympics, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in late 2025.
With this move, World Rowing is not only embracing the future of competitive sports but also broadening the reach of rowing to a global audience like never before.
