World Rowing ChampionshipsVenue: Lake Karapiro.
Date: October 31 to November 7 (finals from November 4 to 7).
Crews: 800 rowers from 52 countries.
Ticket costs: $19.95 to $99.95.
Budget: $14 million.
NZ crews defending world titles: Men's pair (Eric Murray and Hamish Bond), the lightweight double sculls (Peter Taylor and Storm Uru), single sculls (Mahe Drysdale) and lightweight single sculls (Duncan Grant).
Have a look as the news unfolds:
Found this image of the beautiful greenstone medals they're awarding to gold medal winners at Karapiro and designed and carved by renowned Maori artists Lewis Gardiner and Thomas Ratima. It is believed that this is the first time pounamu have been awarded in this way at a major international sporting event in New Zealand.
The pounamu, carved into the shape of a Maori waka (canoe) paddle, will be awarded to the 2010 world champions at the same time as they receive their FISA gold medal. "When the athletes are gifted these taonga, I hope they take away a big part of New Zealand Maori culture," says Gardiner. The intricate binding at the top of each pounamu represents the hard work, strength and dedication of the athlete. In Maori culture, a pounamu is treasured, valuable and holds spiritual significance. It is customary for the pounamu to be blessed before wearing. A pounamu is believed to absorb the mana, or spiritual power, of its wearer. Suspended from thin leather or plaited flax, it is traditionally worn around the neck, level with the cavity where the collarbones meet above the chest.
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Czech woman with gold medal hopes in this article from the ODT and comment on who's the best single sculler in the world at present - is it Mahe I hear you ask...?
Greek team here
British arriving as we speak... and apparently confident...!
News on NZ team and crews here
Read about the USA crews
Please forward me any links you find... designability@xtra.co.nz
