Olympic Dreams Ignited by the River & Rowing Museum

• Major new education programme Knowing Rowing will inspire and motivate young rowers across the country.
• Museum based workshops, rowing club based activity sessions and online resources bring the history of rowing to life.
• Knowing Rowing Launch and Open Day 14 September at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames.

As Olympic fever grips the nation The River & Rowing Museum launch a brand new education programme to ignite the Olympic dreams of young athletes Knowing Rowing – a new programme to inspire and excite young rowers about the heritage of their sport in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. The initiative has been welcomed by the World Rowing Federation (FISA) and British Rowing as a lasting legacy to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Funded by museum supporter Paul Roy and the South Oxfordshire District Council and endorsed by FISA and British Rowing the programme will provide an invaluable educational and motivational resource to rowing schools and clubs across the country, helping the history and heritage of rowing become a fundamental aspect of learning to row.

The Olympics will be a major feature throughout Knowing Rowing as young rowers across the country look forward to the London 2012 Olympic Regatta at Dorney Lake, Eton.

The River & Rowing Museum is the only rowing focused sporting museum in the world, with a rich and unparalleled archive of rowing heritage. The Museum’s location at Henley on Thames is the cradle of world rowing, hosting the annual Henley Royal Regatta since 1839, as well as the Olympic Regattas in 1908 and 1948.

The Knowing Rowing programme is built upon three main themes: ‘Making History’, ‘Dare to Dream’ and ‘Tell the World’. These cover topics such as:

• The social history of rowing
• The science and technology of boat-building
• The heroes of rowing past and present
• Rowing journalism and photography

Through the ‘Dare to Dream’ element of the programme participants will be able to explore what it takes to be an Olympic rower today compared to past games, and following the 2012 Olympic Regatta will be able to analyse the training regimes and preparations of the Olympic champions.

Knowing Rowing will start across the Thames Valley before eventually rolling out nationwide. Resources will be accessible through a range of opportunities of museum based workshops and talks, rowing club sessions and online media for rowing organisations across the UK, including downloadable interviews and podcasts with Britain’s top rowers: http://www.rrm.co.uk/learning/knowing-rowing.aspx

14 September Knowing Rowing Launch and Open Day at the River & Rowing Museum
Knowing Rowing will be launched at the River & Rowing Museum with an Open Day where young rowers from rowing clubs and schools can try the many resources on offer through the programme, and meet the dedicated team running the programme, lead by River & Rowing Museum Programme Development Officer Lisa Hann.

Admission is free but booking is necessary to ensure availability. [Booking can be done via the River & Rowing Museum. Contact information below]

Guin Batten, FISA Council Member and Olympic Silver medallist said: “Knowing Rowing is a project I’m immensely proud to be part of. It’s all about young rowers getting closer to the roots of rowing - something that is very close to my heart. Rowing has such an amazing heritage and sharing this with young people in dynamic and exciting ways through Knowing Rowing will be great fun, and an invaluable resource for the sport.”

Paul Mainds, Chief Executive of the River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames said: “Knowing Rowing adopts the core values of the World Rowing Federation, FISA, that rowers transmit time honoured values and shared experiences to future generations, and in doing so inspire and motivate them to excel. We’re proud to champion those ideals here at the River & Rowing Museum and look forward to seeing the successes of this trailblazing scheme as it nurtures the next generation of Olympic rowing champions.”

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Press Contacts
Maxim Bendall, Kallaway: 0207 221 7883 maxim.bendall@kallaway.com
Catherine Yoxall, The River & Rowing Museum: 01491 415642 catherine.yoxall@rrm.co.uk

Notes to Editors
Rowing in the Classroom
A second education programme designed to bring rowing heritage to a wider school audience with curriculum linked sessions will run concurrently with the Knowing Rowing initiative. Rowing in the Classroom will run as a pilot scheme at the Langley Academy with the support of the Youth Sports Trust, The Boat Race and London Youth Rowing, before being rolled out nationally.

The River & Rowing Museum
The River & Rowing Museum (rrm.co.uk) , an independent charity, is one of the UK’s leading regional and sporting Museums, attracting over 100,000 visitors a year. The Museum also has a purpose built education centre visited by over 20,000 children and adults a year. The Museum provides superb value for money. Tickets are £8 for adults and £6 for children and provide free access for one year. The Museum celebrates four themes explored through a wide variety of exhibitions and events across four galleries and special exhibitions:

• The past, present and future of the River Thames
• The historic riverside community of Henley on Thames
• The international sport of rowing
• The Wind in the Willows

Since opening in August 1998 the Museum has received numerous awards including the National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year award, the Sandford Award For Heritage Education and the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge.

Location, opening and ticket information

• The River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel. 01491 415600.
• The Museum, terrace café and shop are open every day from 10am - 5.30pm in summer and 10am - 5pm in the winter
• Tickets give FREE admission for a whole year!
• Admission is just £8 for adults, £6 for children aged four and over, FREE for children aged three and under and £6 for senior citizens and concessions
• Free parking for visitors

The River & Rowing Museum is part of the Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG) Family Friendly initiative - a scheme that brings together 29 Museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family.

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