History

The Guadalquivir water course has changed along History and, very much more in the past century due to artificial works to avoid floods on the city.  So, from 1940s the stretch of the river which now is the regatta course was closed where currently is the Cachorro bridge and its water flowed to a new water course created on the western side of the city. This part of the river stayed unknown for most part of sevillians although some rowers always knew that it would be perfect for a regatta course.

The opportunity came with the Expo’92.  In their projects was “opennig” this river to city coming back to the historic situation during the last ten or fifteen centuries.

A rowing regatta course was taken into consideration from the very beginning of the Expo projects.  Crossing the river from bank to bank, with no posts in the channel was one of the main conditions for new bridge projects.

The second step was to decide the most convenient place for a rowing and canoeing Centre and immediately project was drawn up. In February 1987, the Andalusian Rowing Federation and Expo’92 invited to the President of FISA, Mr. Thomas Keller, to visit the city asking his advice for a good international Regatta course and Centre.  Later, in 1989 during works, Thomas Keller came for a second visit.

At end of 1987 works started and were concluded in Fall 1989.  Due to Expo’92 security system the river and Centre was not really operative until Expo was concluded. Anyway in 1989 an international canoeing race was held but on unconcluded works.  It is on June 30th and July 1st when the Spanish Rowing Championships were celebrated as the first offcial Regatta in the Centre and La Cartuja course.  This has been considered as the day of inauguration of teh Centre.

In fall 1993 management of the Centre was assumed by the Andalusian Government being 1994 really the first year for running the Centre.  Andalusian and Spanish team trainings were hosted and an imaginative campaign was carried out to show the Centre to foreign federations as a very good place for winter training.  Several canoeing and rowing events were held. The National Sports Council granted the title of “Specialised High Performanc Centre for Rowing and Canoeing”.

The first edition of the “FISA Team Cup” was in February 1995 and was the recognition for several teams as their place for winter training and also the start poing for a very nice and successful cooperation with FISA.  In November the FISA Coaches Conference was hosted and in May 1996 the Canoeing Qualification Regatta for Atlanta Olympic Games was organized.

During the following years, more and more teams were coming to the Centre and very important events were held:

  • Every year: FISA Team Cup and some National Championships.
  • 1999: FISA Masters Regatta.
  • 2001: World Cups for both, Canoeing and Rowing.
  • 2002: World Canoeing Championships and World Rowing Championships.
  • 2007: World Open Water Swimming Championships.
  • 2013: European Rowing Championships.

Also during all these years the Center has been improved with some more facilities.  The most important was the inauguration of the Sport Residence on February 28th 2001.