Nagambie misses out on Games hosting duties
“So for them, hats off that they see an innovative way of bringing new nations to rowing, so that meant the coastal rowing format was proposed to us.
“We understand some communities were disappointed with that, but we look at it through the lens of a whole generation of athletes being able to be exposed to the sport of rowing.”
The decision was met with disappointment from Nagambie Rowing
Club and Strathbogie Shire, with the area now resigned to the fact it will not play host to any Commonwealth Games events.
Long-time Nagambie Rowing Club member Dave Andrews said it was disappointing to see the organising committee favour coastal rowing over the traditional flat-water discipline.
“This decision means that Strathbogie Shire won’t get a Commonwealth Games, which is a bit of a blow to the community in Nagambie and surrounds, especially given the great work the shire did advocating for an event,” Andrews said.
“I wish them all the best with coastal rowing. I’m not sure how it appeals to the greater majority of people and I think it is a bit of an opportunity lost to not have Lake Nagambie in the Games.
“We certainly have a world-class rowing facility that would have been ideal for the Games, as was proven with the recent national championships, but it wasn’t to be and we’ll cop it on the chin.”
Despite the disappointment of missing out on hosting an event, Andrews said the spirits of those at the club weren’t dampened as they would continue to stage national events at the precinct.
“I am not over the moon about it, but you just need to get on with it, I suppose,” he said.
“We will definitely soldier on. We’ve got a great club here at Nagambie with a great bunch of rowers and people supporting rowing, so we’ll just enjoy being out on the water whatever goes on.”