1968 European Rowing Championships
The 1968 European Rowing Championships were rowing championships held on the Grünau Regatta Course in the East Berlin suburb of Grünau. This edition of the European Rowing Championships was for women only and was held from 16 to 18 August. Twelve or fifteen countries contested five boat classes, and 39 teams competed. Despite the European label of the event, it was open to any country and was regarded as unofficial world championships, but all contesting countries in 1968 were from Europe. The men would meet in Mexico City in mid-October at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Background
The International Rowing Federation had trouble finding a willing host for the 1968 Championships. The matter had been discussed at the FISA congress held in conjunction with the 1967 European Rowing Championships in Vichy. At that same meeting, East Germany had its membership status elevated from associate to ordinary. Delighted with the new status, the president of the East German rowing association,, volunteered to check whether his country could host the championships, and the eventual answer was positive. The chosen venue was the Grünau Regatta Course, which had previously been used for the 1936 Summer Olympics, and later for the 1962 European Rowing Championships. Grünau was confirmed by FISA in early March 1968.In early June, the Deutsche Post of the GDR issued three stamps depicting notable sporting events in East Germany that year. One of the designs by graphic designer shows a single sculling woman with reference to the upcoming European Championships.
The 15 countries reported to compete were the Soviet Union, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, England, Austria, Denmark, France, West Germany, and the host country East Germany. Of those, only the Soviet Union, Romania, and East Germany had boats in all five classes.