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Sarasota News Leader September 6, 2013 Page 42 The heat and humidity caused beads of perspi- THE CONCERTED EFFORT ration to roll down some faces, but the party On Jan. 17, Blackketter appeared before the spirit was not dampened. Sarasota County Tourism Development Coun"This is an exciting time for Sarasota County cil to report that USRowing, the national govand the whole Suncoast area," Sarasota Coun- erning body for the sport, and FISA "want to ty Commissioner Christine Robinson told The bring international rowing back to the United Sarasota News Leader afterward. "I was in States." He added, "We are referred to, when awe just looking around the tent and seeing we travel, as the United States delegation, the all of the people who had a role in making this United States course." happen." That meeting also marked the first public airShe added, "From the volunteers to the state ing of the statistics Sarasota County touted legislators, this was a true community win and in its press release this week about winning would not have happened without the support the bid: more than 1,500 Olympic-caliber athand work of the entire community. Everyone letes from more than 70 countries are expected to participate in the World Championships had a role in making this happen." (From left) Paul Blackketter, president of SunCoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates; Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker; Don Langford, USRowing board president; Dave Gustafson, executive director of the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority; Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County; Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta; Randy Benderson, president of Benderson Development; Dan Schlandt, assistant Manatee County administrator; Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid; Manatee County Commissioner Larry Bustle; and Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contributed photo by Igor Meijer of FISA