Rowing, Virtus and IPC advance inclusion talks

World Rowing, Virtus and the International Paralympic Committee agreed to move toward a memorandum of understanding on high-performance pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment. The announcement followed strategic discussions in Lausanne.

World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland and executive director Vincent Gaillard met Virtus president Robyn Smith and IPC president Andrew Parsons. Their discussions linked inclusion with athlete wellbeing, governance and fair competition.

Indoor rowing was identified as a potentially accessible entry route because it requires less infrastructure than on-water programmes. The organisations said they would continue translating the discussions into practical action. The reported stage is an agreement to formalise cooperation, rather than confirmation that a memorandum had already been signed or that new Paralympic events had been approved.