Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the site of the exciting competitions at the Rio 2007 Pan American Games, will once again host a large-scale and important event.

The Pre-Olympic Rowing Championship, Latin American Zone, will be held between November 16th and 18th, with competitions in the Women's Single Skiff Heavyweight, Men's Single Skiff Heavyweight, Women's Double Skiff Lightweight and Men's Double Skiff Lightweight.

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo rowers Thiago Gomes and Thiago Almeida will form the Lightweight Double Sculls boat. Both were members of the Pan-Rio team and are competing to represent Brazil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Brazilian team's training at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, held in two periods (from 6 am to 10 am and from 15 pm to 19 pm), is at an intense pace.

In the Pre-Olympic Regatta, five countries qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games in each of the Single Skiff events and three secure a place in each of the Double Skiff categories.

In addition to the duo formed by Thiagos, Flamengo also has Kissya Cataldo as a reserve in the Heavyweight Women's Single Sculls, which has Vasco player Fabiana Beltrame as the starter.

Photo: Thiago Gomes, coach Marcos Amorim and Thiago Almeida