Bulgaria to send second boat to Beijing

(BEIJING, June 30) -- Brothers Ivo and Martin Yanakiev will be racing in the Beijing Olympic Games, as the International Rowing Federation (FISA) has decided to award the Bulgarian double scullers two qualifying spots that opened up.

At the final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poznan, Poland, two qualifying spots were available in Men's Double Sculls. China and Russia each secured a spot by finishing first and second, while the Yanakiev brothers finished just 0.29 seconds shy of qualifying.

But their Olympic dream was reborn when an Olympic team declared that they would race with the same athletes in two boats, thus making two qualifying positions available.

FISA's decision means that Bulgaria will be sending two boats to the Summer Games, since Single sculler Rumyana Neykova has already qualified.