WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP OPENED

Belgrade, 24 July 2003 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Aleksandar II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the opening ceremony of the FISA Under-23 World Rowing Championships at Belgrade’s Ada Ciganlija lake this evening.

Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by Prof. Dragoljub Kavran, Member of the Crown Council and his wife.

At the start of the opening ceremony a number of folk dances was performed by folk dance group “Branko Krsmanovic”, followed by a parade of the participants in the wonderful atmosphere of Ada Ciganlija. The organisers and participants were welcomed and greeted by Championship Organising Committee President Dragan Vuksanovic and International Rowing Championship Committee Chairman Axel Schindowsky.

The competition was declared open by President of the Serbia and Montenegro Parliament Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, who pointed out that this was an oportunity to show our best features - hospitality, friendship and desire to be the best through sports and competitions. Mr Micunovic wished every success to all the participants. The show ended with spectacular fireworks to the delight of all the present.

From today until Sunday 27th July Belgrade will host this important sports event and will offer home to over 1000 rowers from 40 countries on six continents. Placement in one of the first three places in the categories of pairs, coxed fours and coxless fours would enable Serbia and Montenegro team to participate in the Olympic Games in Athens next year.

Many distinguished guests at tonight’s opening included representatives of the diplomatic corps, Belgrade Mayoress Radmila Hrustanovic, Serbian Minister for International Economic Relations Prof. Dr Goran Pitic, representatives of the World Rowing Federation, many athletes, public fugures and sports lovers.