Photograph: Werner Schmidt

Friday, May 13, 2011

For Pete's Sake, Gant!

Tomorrow, Saturday, 14 of May, it is time for the 2nd annual Gant Boat Race on Djurgårdsbrunnsviken in Stockholm. As the name of the races says, the clothing company Gant is sponsoring these races between the Swedish "prep schools" Sigtuna and Lundsberg. The regatta area opens at 11 a.m. and the opening ceremony is at 12:30 p.m., and the first race starts at 1 p.m.

Last year's races seem to have been very successful and I do think it is great that the sport of rowing is getting attention in Sweden; I even believe that the Swedish Rowing Association gave the organisers of the regatta a helping hand when it came to safety on the water, etc.

Reading the clothing company's special web site about the rowing races - it's in Swedish, but click here if you would like to have a look - it is embarrassing to read the "Swinglish", because not only is the company unaware what the boat types are called in Swedish, it's a mismatch in English, too - what on earth is, for example, "quad sweep"? I don't know, but I would have loved to be in Stockholm to see this boat class!

Can someone from the Swedish Rowing Association, please help the ignorant organisers. This is, you see, the second year Gant is making the same mistakes. I understand that the rowing communities all over the world, whether it is a small rowing nation like Sweden, or a larger one like the USA, is dying to get all the attention it can, but don't be afraid to tell clothing companies like Gant and Brooks Brothers, and other sponsors to please do things right...

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