WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 13th annual George Washington Invitational Crew

Classic, scheduled for Saturday, April 15, on the Potomac River has been

cancelled, GW Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz has announced.

Several of the 12 teams scheduled to compete had withdrawn from the event

citing potential disruption from the planned protest of meetings at the World

Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) buildings this weekend. The World

Bank and IMF buildings are located just east of the GW campus and several

blocks east of

the competition venue. GW Athletic Department officials determined it was in

the best interest of all concerned to cancel the event for safety reasons.

The event, held annually in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom

Festival and hosted by the George Washington University crew program, is the

largest collegiate rowing competition in the Washington metropolitan area.