Modern rowing entered Egypt at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.  It entered with European communities who brought it over from their countries and established the earliest rowing clubs in Alexandria. The first of them was the German sports club (Deutscher Sportverein) and then the mixed Club (CICA) then the French Club (CNF).

 

By 1907, there were 4 rowing clubs in Alexandria:

 

On Thursday August 29, 1907, there was a meeting of 8 delegates, 2 from each club, and they founded the International Federation of Egypt for Rowing Clubs  

 

F dration Internationale d'Egypte des Soci t d'Aviron (FIESA)),

 

for the purpose of organizing races and competitions between the member clubs of this federation.

 

 

 

Mr. Mieli, from the mixed Club was chosen as the first President of the federation, Mr. Ott from the German club as the Vice President, and Mr. Forzinetti from the French club as Secretary.

 

The first rowing competition was held under the supervision of this federation after 3 days of its foundation. That was on Sunday September 1, 1907. It included competitions of double and quadruple Yole boats for 2000m and singles for 1500m.

 

Races continued to be held during 1908, and the federation categorized the athletes in 3 categories: Seniors, juniors and debutants.

 

In 1909 the Alexandria rowing club was re-declared under a new name: the Italian rowing Club (Societ Canottieri Italia (SCI)), which replaced its predecessor in the Federation. In the summer of that year, Mr. Mieli resigned as President of the federation and was replaced by Mr. Raiss, also from the mixed Club.

 

Also in 1909 the federation started to arrange the rowing races as high level social sport's occasions twice a year during summer.  They printed fancy invitations containing the celebration program. The competitions would start at 3:00pm or 4:00pm, so that the last event starts at 6:00pm, is followed by the medals-awarding ceremony, a classical music concert, and then dinner.

 

The regatta took place in Alexandria's Western Harbor, so that the finish line was in front of the Khedevial Yacht club, close to Ras El Teen Palace.

 

In 1910 the number of clubs increased to 5 after the joining of the Hellenic nautique club in Alexandria which was founded in the previous year. Also in this year, the federation began to hold its sports celebrations under the supervision of Alexandria's Governor, who was Ibrahim Pasha Abdi at that time.

 

In 1911 the Federation was joined by the Swiss club in Alexandria and the Port Said Rowing club, which was founded by the British community in Port Said. The Port Said rowing Club was the first club from outside Alexandria.  Also during this year Mr. Roussos from the Hellenic nautique club was elected as the President of the Federation.

 

In the September 1912 event, the program included a friendly water polo match between a team selected from the federation clubs and the British army team.  The British army team won the match.

 

In 1913 rowing continued to spread, and the Ismailia Rowing Club was founded and joined the Federation, bringing the number of member      clubs to 8.

 

The federation continued to be active during the first half of 1914: a board meeting was held on June 13th, and a regatta was organized in Port Said on June 21st.

 

 

Because of the First World War, the Federation activities were stopped around the end of July 1914, and were not resumed until 1920. 

 

In 1935 rowing continued to spread and the royal rowing club (the Egyptian Rowing Club now) was founded.