2017 World Rowing Championships are set to begin at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida this month September 23 through October 1, 2017
SARASOTA, Fla., Sept. 14, 2017 -- The 2017 World Rowing Championships (WRC) are set to begin September 23, 2017 in Sarasota, Florida. The nine-day event will conclude with championship races on October 1, 2017. Both Sarasota and Manatee Counties are the hosts of the event.
The International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) selected Nathan Benderson Park (NBP) in Sarasota County, Florida to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships. This is only the second time the event will be held in the United States and the first time it will be held in Florida. FISA officials cited the park's close proximity to I-75, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, beaches, shopping and the year-round nice climate as reasons for choosing the venue.
"We are ready to showcase our region to the world," says Virginia J. Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County. "The local organizing committee, along with numerous volunteers, staff and officials, are excited to welcome athletes, coaches, officials and spectators from around the world. Together, we prepared a festival-like atmosphere celebrating the races and athletes as well as our community."
The WRCH team and organizing committee developed a robust experience at NBP during the race days. FanFest will take place on Regatta Island and offers live music, entertainment, vendors, food trucks, beer gardens and food trucks in addition to activities for families. There will be daily themed-expos designed to shine a spotlight on organizations and groups throughout the region.
Racing is scheduled to end daily at 2 p.m. which leaves plenty of time for spectators and visitors to explore the region. Visit Sarasota County (VSC) and the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau have worked hard to welcome the community beyond NBP's borders. Off-site events and experiences throughout the region will be highlighted daily.
The potential for significant international exposure of Sarasota County is strong. More than 2,000 athletes hailing from more than 70 countries and an estimated 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the event and it will be broadcast to an estimated 130 million people across the globe.
In the past several years, VSC has provided support in hosting elite-level rowing and aquatic competitions at NBP. NBP is also well-known in the national rowing community as an ideal venue for training, particularly in the winter months. Next year, NBP will host the 2018 World Rowing Masters Regatta.
Tickets to the races and events are available at WRCH2017.com
About Sarasota County
Located on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast, Sarasota County offers a vibrant arts and cultural scene, a diverse array of culinary experiences, a circus heritage unlike no other in the world and a variety of opportunities to take advantage of the clear waters and the great outdoors. Sarasota County provides a beach getaway with numerous sprawling, white-sand beaches, including Siesta Beach, named the Trip Advisors' People's Choice Award for "Best Beach" and the "Best Beach in America" by Dr. Beach in 2017. In 2017, Sarasota County's Nathan Benderson Park will host the 2017 World Rowing Championships—the first United States destination to host the event in more than 20 years. For more information on visiting Sarasota County, visit www.visitsarasota.org or call (800) 522-9799.
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SOURCE Sarasota Convention & Visitor's Bureau
CONTACT: Lynn Hobeck Bates, 941-955-0991 Ext. 103, lhobeck@visitsarasota.org
RELATED LINKShttp://www.visitsarasota.org
