The 2024 World Rowing Congress was held virtually Saturday, 16 November.

World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland opened the Congress and presented his report to the delegates, followed by reports from the Executive Committee Members, Chairs of the specialist Commissions and Continental Representatives.

The Congress was asked to vote on the attribution of the 2027 World Rowing Championships. Excellent bids were received from Varese, Italy and Lucerne, Switzerland. Following video presentations by both bidders, the chairs of the Events Commission, Competitive Commission, Athletes Commission shared some additional elements of the bids. The World Rowing Congress followed the recommendation of the World Rowing Council and attributed the 2027 World Rowing Championships to Lucerne, Switzerland.

A new chair was elected to the Competitive Commission as the incumbent, Rosie Mayglothling, did not stand for re-election – having reached the age limit under the World Rowing statutes. Henk-Jan Zwolle (NED) was elected as Chair of the Competitive Commission, against Paul Thompson (AUS) and Nazanin Malaei (IRI).

Also, two members of the Council were elected to the World Rowing Executive Committee, replacing Rosie Mayglothling and Patrick Rombaut. Mathias Binder (SUI), Chair of the Equipment and Technology Commission, and Guin Batten (GBR), Chair of the Coastal Rowing Commission, will be serving in the World Rowing Executive Committee as of 1 January 2025.

The Sierra Leone Rowing Federation was welcomed as a new member of World Rowing – the total number of member national rowing federations is now 160.

World Rowing’s Member Federations also received some updates on various strategic projects : Strategic Events and Calendar Review; Indoor Rowing Development; Continental Confederation Collaboration project; WR/WWF Healthy Waters Alliance; 2024 ASOIF Governance review.

The 2025 World Rowing Quadrennial Congress will be held on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 March 2025 in Seville, Spain.