(L-R) China’s Chen Yunxia, China’s Zhang Ling, China’s Lyu Yang and China’s Cui Xiaotong compete in the women’s quadruple sculls rowing heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo on July 23, 2021. (Photo by Luis ACOSTA / AFP)
TOKYO —Monday’s Olympic rowing races have been moved to Sunday, the World Rowing Executive Committee said on Friday, citing concerns over an inclement weather forecast.
“Adverse weather is expected on Monday 26 July 2021 which would bring high winds and strong gusts creating probably unequal and potentially unrowable racing conditions,” the committee said in a statement.
As a result, the men’s and women’s eights heats will also be moved from Sunday to Saturday to accommodate the schedule changes for Monday.
Filipino rower Cris Nievarez, who qualified for the quarterfinals earlier Friday, was originally scheduled to race on Monday.
The announcement follows in the footsteps of the 2016 Rio Olympics, when high winds forced disruptions to the competition schedule, though competitors at the Sea Forest Waterway on Friday offered generally favorable reviews of the Tokyo course.