'The Boys in the Boat' Aims to Boost Rowing's Profile

USRowing sponsors nationwide screenings to raise funds and diversify the sport.

The new movie 'The Boys in the Boat', directed by George Clooney, tells the story of a group of poor students at the University of Washington who try out for the junior varsity crew team in 1936, hoping to secure a stipend and housing.
USRowing, the organization overseeing rowing in the U.S., has sponsored dozens of screenings of the movie across the country, aiming to raise funds and build awareness for the sport across racial and socioeconomic lines.
The movie's release, seven months before the start of the Paris Olympics, is seen as a potential boost for the sport, which is often perceived as an exclusive playground for East Coast and Ivy League elites.
USRowing is working to create programs and opportunities for people to row, in an effort to diversify the sport and inspire more people to try rowing, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
The movie is based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown and is seen as a quintessential underdog sports drama.