Organization and provision of medical services during the 2026 World Rowing Cup in Seville: experience of an international rowing event.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the organization, planning, and provision of medical and rescue services during the 2026 World Rowing Cup in Seville, and to characterize the medical activity and aquatic rescue interventions performed during the event.
Methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective study was conducted at the La Cartuja High-Performance Sports Centre (Seville) during the official training sessions and competition days from 27 to 31 May 2026. All medical and rescue records generated by the healthcare system were included, regardless of the profile of the person attended. Descriptive analyses were performed using absolute frequencies and percentages. No inferential analysis was conducted because of the small number of medical events.
Results: The system integrated aquatic rescue, medical care, medical transport, communications, and emergency coordination. During the competition, seven rescue boats were deployed, together with advanced life support, basic life support, and rapid intervention ground resources. A total of 17 people received medical care: four athletes, one event staff member, two members of the public, and ten volunteers. Most medical encounters were minor. Two aquatic rescue interventions occurred. One involved an athlete following a capsize, while the other involved a non-participant found unconscious and apneic who required cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced life support, and hospital evacuation, with return of spontaneous circulation.
Conclusions: The integrated organization of medical and rescue resources enabled a response to incidents of different types and severity. Advance planning, simulation exercises, proximity of resources to the water, and coordination between rescue and medical teams are relevant elements for the preparation of future international rowing competitions.