Olympics: Storms Call Off Beleaguered Rowing Regatta

Umer Jamshaid Published August 10, 2016 | 06:48 PM

RIO DE JANEIRO, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th August, 2016) - The first medals day at the Rio 2016 rowing regatta was hit by more adverse weather Wednesday as high winds and rain caused racing to be postponed. It is the second time in five days that no rowing has taken place at the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas with the competition dogged by awful conditions. Angry athletes blasted choppy waters "chaotic" on Saturday's opening day as Serbian duo Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik capsized. The first gold medals of the regatta were due to be won Wednesday in the men's and women's quad sculls. More disruptions look likely with wind and rain also forecast for Thursday and Friday.

Governing body FISA's executive director Matt Smith said the forecast was "looking challenging", with the headwinds making alignment at the start and conditions in the first half of the course tricky. The 14-event regatta was due to finish on Saturday, but Smith admitted a Sunday finish is now possible. "For those who know FISA events, this is a small regatta, we have plenty of time up until Saturday noontime, even Sunday noontime, to get in racing." Rowing needs to be completed by Sunday in order for officials to change the course to the configuration required for