792 rowers for 2008 World Rowing Under-23 Championships

(BEIJING, July 4)-- Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany will welcome 792 rowers from 54 nations for the 2008 World Rowing Under-23 Championships. This is the largest number of entries the tournament has received since gaining World Rowing Championship status in 2005.

Twenty German crews will be competing in each of the events in the World Rowing Under-23 Championships. Italy will send 18 and 14 US crews will enter the race.

Single scull events have the largest number of entries. The Men's Single has the most with 29. The Lightweight Men's Single and Lightweight Women's Single have 24 and 23 entries, respectively. The Lightweight Men's Double has 22 teams competiting.

This regatta can be traced back to 1976 when it was originally called the Match der Seniors, whose aim was to provide a stepping stone to the elite level for young rowers. It took 29 years before it fully earned FISA World Championship status.

The regatta begins on Thursday, July 17, and will last four days.