A boat with a purpose
Siġġiewi Rowing Club though the acquisition of its quad “Égalité”, is intensifying its efforts to become a fully inclusive sports organisation by using rowing as a platform to foster equality and address social challenges.
The financial support provided by APS Bank, meant that the Club could acquire its first coastal rowing quad, a coxed sculling boat which is rowed by four individuals, and is wide, robust and stable enough to be used in the Maltese Coastal waters. Sculling, a discipline of rowing, is inherently egalitarian, where rowers can row in the same boat regardless of their physical stature, gender, or socioeconomic background. This is possible due to the fact that sculling naturally balances out port and stern side by having each rower holding two oars, one on each side. Moreover, at international level, there is a growing trend to have mixed-gender and mixed-ability sculling races which at club level promote collaboration and teamwork between genders and athletes of various abilities.
Malta has a long tradition of rowing, with regattas dating back to the 17th century. In fact, rowing is typically considered as one of the toughest sports one can practice which requires strength, endurance and extensive technical knowhow to be crowned as a rowing champion. Club President, Professor Joseph Grima explains how Siġġiewi Rowing Club is gradually finding its niche to be a club which equally values tradition, excellence, inclusion and equality, focusing more on “the journey” rather than the “race result” with priority being given to health and well-being (United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3), gender equality (Goal 5), and reducing inequalities (Goal 10). “We promote rowing as a vehicle to bring people of all ages and ability together, irrespective of their social backgrounds, gender or ethnic backgrounds – literally rowing on the same boat. All those who want to row with us are treated equally and with dignity. In practice this means that our doors are open to everybody irrespective of whether one will be competing at high-level competitions or whether someone wishes to embark on the sport as a means to retain an active lifestyle or feel part of a vibrant community.”
The right to participate in sports and physical activities is enshrined in our national legislation and in international declarations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) charters. In fact, Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) clearly states the right to rest and leisure, including engagement in recreational activities. Even more, the International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (UNESCO, 1978) explicitly declares that participation in physical activity and sports is a fundamental right for all people and emphasizes the role of sports in physical, mental, and social well-being.
The boat has a long history which span over fifteen years. Manufactured in France in May 2008, it was originally part of Arklow’s first coastal sculling fleet, a set of three boats named Liberté (Solo C1x), Égalité (Coxed Quad C4x+) and Fraternité (Double C2x). It was raced all in various regattas in Europe including Great Britain (Plymouth in 2009, where it was rowed by a women’s crew), Lake Garda where it was rowed in the World Championships at Lake Grada by its second owner, Cairndhu Rowing Club who also rowed in the First Irish Offshore in Wicklow (winning Silver). It was the purchased by Cove Rowing Club, the third owners who also raced with it until recently in Ireland.
Its present owners, Siġġiewi Rowing Club opted to retain the boat’s original name, Égalité, a name which literally means equality, since this term perfectly reflects the ethos behind this boat: achieving equality through rowing. The concept of equality is central to many political and social movements and is often associated with ideas of social justice, human rights, and democracy. It advocates for the removal of barriers that create unequal treatment and treating people fairly and without discrimination in all areas of life, including sport.
Égalité was officially blessed by Fr Josef Mifsud, Parish Priest of Siġġiewi, and launched in Malta at a ceremony at Għar Lapsi earlier this year as part of a Sports Festival organised by Reġjun Punent, with representatives from APS Bank present.
Anyone wishing to take rowing as a sport, irrespective of age, gender or ability are encouraged to get in touch with Siġġiewi Rowing Club.
Siggiewi Rowing Club 