The 75th Women’s and the 166th Men’s Boat Race will take place, behind closed doors, on 4 April.
However, this year’s event will be at Ely, Cambridgeshire, reflecting the challenge of planning a high-profile amateur event around continuing restrictions as well as uncertainty regarding the safety and navigation of Hammersmith Bridge.
Since August, the bridge, which opened in 1887, has been closed to pedestrians. Boats have also been prevented from passing underneath after cracks in the structure worsened during a heatwave. It had already been closed to traffic since April 2019 because of the problems and must undergo significant repairs.
Dr George Gilbert, chair of BRCL’s Race and Operations Committee, said: “We would like to thank the BBC for their continued support. We are all looking forward to bringing the 75th Women’s and the 166th Men’s Boat Race to sports fans on BBC 1. In the more intimate setting of the Great Ouse, there are exciting new possibilities for safely filming the event and we will be bringing you closer to the action, on and off the water.”
The 2020 races were both cancelled because of the global pandemic.
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