County Moves Forward on World Rowing Championships Bid

BRADENTON -- At Tuesday's Manatee County Commission meeting, members unanimously passed a reimbursement agreement with Sarasota County and the Suncoast Aquatic and Nature Center Associates, Inc. (SANCA) for the 2017 World Rowing Championships. The county delegation will travel to South Korea to await the "Federation Internationale des Societes d'Aviron" (FISA) decision, as to which location the championships will be held. 

Earlier this year, SANCA and U.S. Rowing submitted the final bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park. FISA then announced the bid was recommended. On June 6, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners approved the submission and a letter of financial commitment in the amount of $2,782,000 to support the games, should Benderson Park win the bid.

Winning the bid requires SANCA to provide evidence of sufficient funds or credit to pay the expenditures needed to perform the event agreement. 

The funds will come from both Sarasota and Manatee County and County Attorney Bill Clague assured commissioners that he was close to putting the last of the paperwork in order, but that it was nonetheless, appropriate for a vote. 

Clague didn't want to discuss the details until that process was over. County Administrator Ed Hunzeker endorsed Clague's suggestion and the commission unanimously approved the commitment. 

The winning bid to the 2017 World Rowing Championships will be decided on September 2, 2013, during a FISA meeting in South Korea.