Akzo Nobel

Rowers Going For Gold

Eleven rowers from a club sponsored by Akzo Nobel are battling it out on the water in Greece as they attempt to achieve Olympic glory.

The six men and five women are all current or former members of the Nereus club in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which has been sponsored by the company for the last 13 years. Akzo Nobel provides the club with competition boats, which are coated with the companys products.





All representing the Netherlands, the rowers are taking part in various categories and most got off to an encouraging start, although Mondays program had to be cancelled due to high winds.

By the time the rowing regatta got underway again on Tuesday afternoon, four of the men had progressed after finishing second in their first heat of the Mens Eight.

Other successes included Femke Dekker going through her first heat in the Womens Single Skulls, while Sarah Siegelaar also qualified for the next round of the Womens Eight after the Dutch crew won their heat.

Two of the 11Michiel Bartman and Diederik Simon (who are part of the Mens Eight)will be looking to go one better than their exploits in the Sydney Olympics, when they both claimed a silver medal.

The names of the other Nereus competitors (none of whom are racing in Akzo Nobel boats at this event) are Marit van Eupen, Kirstin van der Kolk, Laura Posthuma, Gijs Vermeulen, Chun Wei Cheung, Gerard van der Linden and Ivo Snijders.

The rowing events are scheduled to finish over the weekend.

(Released: August 18, 2004)