The Association of Portuguese-Speaking Olympic Committees (ACOLOP) welcomed World Rowing at the Lusophone Olympic Congress, on April 24th and 25th, 2025.
ACOLOP is a non-profit organisation related to the Olympic movement made up of 12 Portuguese speaking countries and communities (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, India, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Principe, Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, from which six have active rowing programmes.
The Olympic Congress was run in Praia, Capital of Cape Verde.
Following the ACOLOP’s re-foundation in April 2024, with headquarters in Lisbon, the Lusophone Games are planned for September 2026, with a renewed model in which the competition becomes a beach event, emphasising the coastal connection of all ACOLOP member countries, which results in a reduction in costs and a parallel link with the protection of the oceans and the promotion of the blue economy. The event is also positioned as a pathway opportunity for YOG preparation, allowing NOCs and IFs to collaborate on Youth Athlete development pathways.
World Rowing highlighted Beach Sprint Rowing as an exciting discipline to add value to the Lusophone Sport movement and Lusophone Games.
Under the theme “Towards a joint approach to development through sport,” the Congress brought together high-level international sports leaders to strengthen collaboration among Lusophone nations.
In alignment with the IOC’s Agenda 2020+5, the programme focused on:
Recognition of ACOLOP at the international level
Strengthening the Lusophone Games
Strategic partnerships and international financing
Enhanced services to member Olympic Committees
Daniela Gomes, representing World Rowing, contributed to the discussions and highlighted the common values of Rowing and ACOLOP as well as the opportunity to build on Rowing’s inclusion in the Lusophone Games to further contribute for both developing Rowing in Portuguese speaking countries and communities and to enhance sustainable development through Rowing.
Both World Rowing and ACOLOP share a commitment for innovation, accessibility and sustainability and the Congress was a unique opportunity to discuss future cooperation opportunities leading the the inclusion of Rowing Beach Sprint in the Lusophone Games.
World Rowing is thankful to ACOLOP for this exchange opportunity and looks forward to working with the Portuguese speaking countries and communities to develop our sport towards meaningful Lusophone Games.