Just got back from a press conference at the Chesapeake Boathouse. The US Olympic Committee has established the Oklahoma River as an international sport venue and it will be the location of the USA Rowing World Challenge.

Basically, OKC will host a 10 day long training camp with a final day of racing of international Olympic rowers (Canada, UK, Italy and others) in October 2007, right before the Oklahoma Centennial celebration. This will be big because it will also be a large international rowing event before the 2008 Summer Olympics in China.

A question was asked to Steve Rousch of the US Olympic Committee if this is just a one time thing. He said that they want to make this an ongoing camp and it depends on the community's support of the event.

You can read more at the US Olympics Press website (http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/6272c9a938d3a5cb8525711000564abd/c4996c2a038416d9852571c30063a41c?OpenDocument)

Also, watch the Chesapeake Boathouse's Press Release page (http://www.chesapeakeboathouse.org/1102news_releases.html) for more information.

EDIT: Forgot to mention this... University of Central Oklahoma had a part in this as well because they are a US Olympic Community Partner. I think they stated something about something about a volleyball training camp at UCO.

Wow!! That is wonderful news!!!!

Maybe this will be big enough to convice the city to do some major landscaping updates on the river.

Maybe this will be big enough to convice the city to do some major landscaping updates on the river.

I hope so to. The bank's so bare bones right now. This is such great news. I cannot believe how much OAR and Chesapeake have leveraged with this one building on the riverfront. It really is "world-class".

This is a great development! Here's a very nice article ... http://row2k.com/news/news.cfm?ID=25113 , better (I think) than the Oklahoman's ... http://www.newsok.com/article/2827273 ... I've just finished blogging ... wish I had some better pics, though.

Indeed, this is great news! Hopefully by then there's more than just one building on the river.

There's a possibility but I can't say for sure.

Great news indeed!

OUman

This is a great development! Here's a very nice article ... http://row2k.com/news/news.cfm?ID=25113 , better (I think) than the Oklahoman's ... http://www.newsok.com/article/2827273 ... I've just finished blogging ... wish I had some better pics, though.

Thanks for that row2k link!

What kind of pictures are you looking for?

Thanks for that row2k link!

What kind of pictures are you looking for?
Some pics of competitive skulling or whatever it's called taking place on the Oklahoma River! There should be plenty around but I'm not finding any.

Actually, any pics of the pre-maps North Canadian downtown would be great, too. I've only found one so far ...

WARNING! If you are under the age of 12, don't look at the next picture:
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http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/oklahoma%20river/northcanadianokc_1991.jpg

On the other hand, here's a much prettier one I took yesterday!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/oklahoma%20river/oklahomariver_8_06_c.jpg

Part 1 of 2 or 3 in the series is done: http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/08/oklahoma-river-part-1.html

Some pics about future possibilities would be great, too.

Here's the official Olympic Committee announcement: http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/6272c9a938d3a5cb8525711000564abd/c4996c2a038416d9852571c30063a41c?OpenDocument

:kewlpic:

Great news and wondeful pic Doug

(But, if you're taking these from the road, please be safe ! )

:kewlpic:

Great news and wondeful pic Doug

(But, if you're taking these from the road, please be safe ! )
If you can park while changing a flat tire, I figured I could park while taking a few pics! One kindly fellow pulled up behind my parked car and asked if I needed any help! :bow:

Only in OK - LOL - gotta love it! People are so darn nice here.

:kewlpic:

Great news and wondeful pic Doug

(But, if you're taking these from the road, please be safe ! )
Since you liked the pic, here's a closer view ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/oklahoma%20river/oklahomariver_8_06_i.jpg

BUT, WAIT! I'm giving out stuff that's not yet posted in my Oklahoma River blog series! :boff: Guess I'll have to take some more damn pictures! :tweeted:

Earlier tonight (Sunday), the boathouse had a party for all the members. It was mentioned that a couple more boathouses are in the plans from both OCU and UCO.

Also, the boathouse is building an annex down off of either exchange or agnew (I can't remember which).

So, within the next couple of years, there will be 4 boathouses on the river!

Yes, OCU and UCO had already announced their boathouses and a few others are about to break ground as well. It will be the premier U.S. site to row eventually.