SCHINIAS, Greece, 8 August 2003 — High winds caused organizers to cancel the second day of the Juniors World Rowing Championships, the first in a series of test events for the Athens 2004 Olympics.

The competition was supposed to start 06H30 (03H30 GMT), but was postponed three times, in the vain hope that the winds would subside. But as the gales continued, exceeding by far the ten-meter-per-second limit prescribed by the International Rowing Federation (FISA), the races were called off.

The championships are to resume today.

Equally strong winds sank four boats on Wednesday, the first day of the Championships.

In order to avoid the high winds expected, organizers had put forward the event’s start by two hours to 06:20. Bursts of a high northern wind, called in Greek ‘meltemia’, regularly sweep across the country in August, upsetting sea travel.

Athens Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC) spokesman Nikos Gomolis told private radio station Flash the 2004 Olympics rowing competition was not in danger because the current weather phenomena were exceptional. Critics had warned the site chosen for the Olympic rowing centre was particularly exposed to wind. But Gomolis said it was chosen after both FISA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had given the go-ahead. Denis Oswald, chief IOC inspector for the preparations of the 2004 Games, serves at the same time as FISA president.

IOC Defend Rowing Site as Best in Greece

The IOC defended the rowing site for the Athens Olympics after strong winds yesterday again forced competitors off the water, dealing a blow to a month of test events to show Games preparations were back on track.

Rejecting suggestions for a drastic venue overhaul or change of dates before the 2004 Games, International Olympic Committee chief inspector Denis Oswald said unpredictable weather was part of an outdoor sport like rowing. “If we had a better place in Greece we would have used it,” Oswald, a former Olympic rower himself, told reporters. “Unfortunately indoor rowing does not exist,” Oswald said. “For the Olympics there is no way the dates can be changed.”