User:The Spith/Rowing (sport) name change

From what I have seen from talk page archives and edit histories, the Rowing article was once the only article about rowing on wikipedia. At some point in the article's history however, a decision was made to move the Rowing article to watercraft rowing and start a new article about the sport side, which became Rowing (sport). The original Rowing article is now a disambiguation page.

This decision was originally started by a comment by an unregistered editor, about how an article on rowing, should not focus soley on the sport. Although a lot of time has passed since then, I would like to challenge that statement, and make a few changes for several reasons.

Why Rowing (sport) is a misleading name
The article currently named Rowing (sport), would more accurately be named 'flatwater rowing', and more accurately still just 'rowing'.

Why the Rowing (sport) should be the main rowing article
Firstly in the vast majority of cases, the word 'rowing' is used to indicate the sport described by the article Rowing (sport). This statement is backed up by the following facts:


 * The Category:Rowing is made up of a few hundred articles. All these articles are about the sport, with only four that might be considered exceptions:


 * Ocean Rowing
 * Coastal and ocean rowing
 * Rowing exercise
 * Watercraft Rowing

The first two (although in need of some expanding and wikifying) are suitable subjects for their own articles. However I would contest that they too are classed as sports. Coastal rowing is governed by FISA internationally, and by the ARA in the UK. Organisations which primarily deal with flatwater rowing.

Ocean rowing on the other hand is primarily done by either coastal rowers, or flatwater rowers. I am not aware of anyone who trains solely for an ocean crossing without competing in either coastal or flatwater events.

The rowing exercise article I find of questionable usefulness. It consists of only a few short paragraphs, half of which contain information already covered in indoor rowing. To be honest I have half a mind to nominate it for.

Finally there is watercraft rowing. This article deals with (or at least should deal with) rowing for any reason other than sport, for example people who row because they live in regions with many lakes and actually use it as a transport method. Or the kind of rowing done by tourists in a hire boat. These uses of rowing are rare, yet they are the reason the Rowing (sport) article must have its misleading name.