Rowing —Olympics: Rowing is a speed and endurance sport in narrow boats called shells or fine boats . Rowing is a system of competition in which boats are rowed into a discipline . In rowing , the athlete sits on a sliding seat facing backwards and uses oars to move the boat . Sweep - oar rowing and sculling are two forms of rowing . In sweep - oar rowing , each rower has only one oar which is held with both hands. In sculling , each rower has two oars, one in each hand.
Rowing in the Summer Games: Rowing was introduced to the schedule of the Summer Games in the 1900 Olympics . The sport was cancelled from the 1896 Olympics' schedule due to weather . Only men could participate in the Olympics rowing competition till 1976 . Women's rowing events were included in the Olympics' program in 1976 Montreal Summer Games . At the current Olympics , 14 events are held in the rowing competition . Men and women each compete in single sculls, double sculls, quadruple sculls, the eight, coxless pair and lightweight double sculls . Men also race in coxless four and lightweight coxless four .
Rowing at the 2008 Summer Games: At the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing , the rowing events will be held from 9 th August to 17 th August . The rowing finals are scheduled on 16 th and 17 th August . The rowing events are going to be held at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing Canoeing Park, Mapo Village located in the Shunyi District . Total number of gold medals in contention for the Olympic rowing competition is 14.
France, Slovenia, Italy, the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Romania and Netherlands are the leading nations in the field of rowing in the Summer Games . Some famous rowers who are expected to be seen during the Beijing Summer Games in 2008 are Olaf Karl Tufte, Ivo Yanakiev, Ekaterina Karsten, Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski and Rumyana Neykova
