The rowing programme features a total of fourteen events, seven each for both men and women in identical boat classes. This gender equality was suggested by the World Rowing Federation at its February 2017 congress, with the recommendation adopted by the International Olympic Committee in June 2017.
Events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will include both disciplines of rowing: sweep rowing, where competitors each use a single oar, and sculling, where they use two placed on opposite sides of the boat. Sculling events include men's and women's singles, doubles, lightweight doubles and quads. Sweep events included men's and women's coxless pairs, coxless fours and eights.
