Olympics-Factbox on rowing

Factbox on rowing at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics:

HISTORY

The first recorded rowing competition took place in 1716 in England, where the sport went on to become famous through the race held every year between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, which began in 1829.

The International Rowing Federation (FISA) was founded in 1892 and is the oldest international sports federation in the Olympic movement.

Bad weather and a lack of international participation meant rowing was cancelled at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It made its first appearance in Paris four years later. Women's rowing has been included in the Games since 1976.

EVENTS

Fourteen boat classes are raced: eight sculling events, in which each rower uses two oars, and six sweep-oared events in which the rower grips one oar with both hands.

Boat sizes range from the lightweight double scull to the eight with coxswain in the sweep rowing event.

Races cover 2,000 metres with six competition lanes.

Men: Single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, pair, four, lightweight four, eight with coxswain.

Women: Single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, pair, eight with coxswain.

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION

A total of 550 athletes will take part.