World Rowing, Virtus and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are progressing a strengthened collaboration to advance inclusive high-performance rowing pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Following strategic discussions in Lausanne between World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland, Executive Director Vincent Gaillard, Virtus President Robyn Smith OAM and IPC President Andrew Parsons, the organisations have agreed to move toward formalising their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding.
The collaboration reflects a shared ambition to embed inclusion within high-performance rowing systems globally, while upholding strong governance, athlete wellbeing and fair competition.
As part of the dialogue, Indoor Rowing was identified as a particularly scalable and accessible entry point for nations at varying stages of development. With lower infrastructure barriers and clearly defined performance standards, Indoor Rowing offers a practical pathway for athlete progression, especially in countries where access to on-water facilities may be limited.
These discussions align closely with World Rowing’s broader vision for the evolution of rowing disciplines, including Indoor and Connected Rowing, and their growing relevance within the Olympic Movement as accessible, globally scalable, high-performance formats.
“Inclusion is a fundamental pillar of World Rowing’s vision for the future of our sport,” said World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland. “By working closely with Virtus and the International Paralympic Committee, we can help create clear, credible high-performance pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment, grounded in strong governance, athlete wellbeing and fair competition.”
“This collaboration represents an important step forward in strengthening structured and sustainable pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment,” said Virtus President Robyn Smith OAM. “Working in partnership with International Federations ensures inclusion is embedded within mainstream high-performance systems, not treated as an afterthought.”
IPC President Andrew Parsons added: “Partnership between International Federations and organisations like Virtus is essential to building equitable, credible pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment within the Paralympic Movement.”
The three organisations will continue working together to translate this shared strategic vision into practical action, supporting athletes, member federations and the long-term development of inclusive rowing worldwide.