Sarasota's Nathan Benderson recommended for championships

It's not yet official, but Sarasota's Nathan Benderson Park very well may be the future venue for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

Officials from the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association today learned a council from the International Federation of Rowing Associations, called FISA, is recommending to hold the event at the park, located just south of University Parkway, off Cattlemen Road. FISA's congress is slated to make an official decision on the venue in September.

The other site being considered to host the competition is in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 

"It took a lot of people — a huge partnership — to make it happen," said Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center CEO Paul Blackketter said. "We could not do it with out Sarasota and Manatee counties and the state of Florida."

Blackketter said getting the recommendation "was tough," but the hard work of preparing to host the event will begin if the congress approves the recommendation this fall.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].