Oeiras, PORTUGAL
As part of the Youth Athlete Development Programme funded by Olympic Solidarity, an international development camp was held in Oeiras, Portugal from 19 to 23 July, followed by the prestigious 1924 Pharoes Beach Sprint International Regatta held from 24 to 26 July 2026.
The event brought together delegations from six African and European countries: Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, Cyprus, and host nation Portugal, making this gathering an outstanding opportunity for high-level preparation, knowledge sharing, and international exchange.
A total of 29 participants took part in the development programme, including 11 male athletes, 9 female athletes, 3 male coaches, and 6 female coaches. Over several days, participants followed an intensive programme combining technical skill development, physical preparation, tactical training, and the exchange of best practices under the guidance of the World Rowing Development Team.
Looking to the 2027 WRBSF
Following the camp, the delegations competed in one of the world’s leading Beach Sprint Rowing events, which attracted 31 nations from all five continents, including strong national teams such as Australia, Brazil, China, Spain, and France. The regatta also featured several reigning and former Beach Sprint World Champions, providing the young athletes with a unique opportunity to compete against some of the world’s very best rowers and gain invaluable international racing experience.
This edition held particular significance as Oeiras will host the 2027 World Rowing Beach Sprint Championships, the official qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The competition therefore enabled the young athletes and their coaches to familiarize themselves with the race course, competition venue, facilities, and operational environment that will host one of the sport’s most important international events.
The World Rowing Development Team expressed its great satisfaction with the technical level demonstrated by the development teams, the progress achieved by the young athletes, and their commitment throughout the camp. The team also praised the outstanding quality of the facilities, organization, and logistics provided by the Portuguese Rowing Federation, which played a key role in the success of both the development camp and the international regatta.
On this occasion, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Portuguese Rowing Federation, the organizers of the Pharoes 1924 Beach Sprint Regatta, the World Rowing Development Experts, and Olympic Solidarity for their continued commitment to the development of rowing and the education of the next generation of athletes. Thanks to their support, these young rowers gained invaluable international experience that will strengthen their preparation for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and, in the longer term, for future international competitions on the pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
