With more than three months to go, registrations for the event — which will take place from September 10 to 14 — are progressing at an excellent pace.

The World Rowing Masters Regatta (WRMR), the largest event organized by the International Rowing Federation (World Rowing), is seeing very strong registration numbers, with over 1,000 boats already signed up.

So far, the clubs with the highest number of entries come from the United States and Great Britain.

Looking ahead to the WRMR in Banyoles, everything suggests that participation will be a great success. So far, 1,200 boats have registered. This annual event typically attracts around 4,000 athletes aged 27 and up, and that volume of participants — along with their companions — will pose a major logistical challenge for the city.

The Deputy Mayor and Sports Councillor of Banyoles, Jordi Congost, explained at a press conference: “This event allows us to keep positioning the city as a host for international competitions, and it's not an exaggeration to say that the WRMR will have a historic impact, being the event that brings the most people ever to the city. At the same time, hosting such competitions allows for investments — both in the regatta course and across the city — that will leave a lasting legacy.” He added that “although there will be some disruptions to mobility, we’ll aim to keep them to a minimum and provide alternatives, especially for residents around the Draga Park and the area below the cemetery.”

The President of Club Natació Banyoles, Jordi Casanova, highlighted that “after the 1992 Olympic Games, this will be the most important competition our club has hosted. It's very meaningful for us to once again organize an international event, not only because of the excitement of welcoming athletes from all over the world, but also due to the activity generated in the months leading up to the regatta.”

The Executive Director of the event in Banyoles, Oriol Sallent, also praised the pace of registrations: “With over three months to go, we already have about 900 athletes registered, which, according to World Rowing, is a record at this stage compared to previous editions. We now have 1,200 boats entered, with clubs from 35 countries, including Egypt, Hong Kong, Japan, Brazil, and Australia — led by the USA and the UK, with 33 and 48 clubs registered, respectively.” In Catalonia, four clubs have signed up, including Club Natació Banyoles, which has already registered four boats, though that number is expected to grow as the event approaches.

Nearly 180 volunteers already signed up!

To ensure the event is also a success from an organizational standpoint, around 250 volunteers are needed. Oriol Sallent noted: “We began the volunteer recruitment campaign a couple of months ago and currently have around 180 people signed up for various roles. We're happy with that number, but we clearly need more, so we’ll continue promoting the campaign to reach the 250-volunteer mark.”

Volunteer duties include assisting referees at the entry and exit pontoons, providing translation services, helping participants, and supporting medal ceremonies, among others. Those interested can sign up by clicking the "volunteer registration form".