RowSA was established in 1934 (under the name of SAARU) to control rowing in South Africa. RowSA controls, administers, manages and co-ordinates rowing and rowing competition in South Africa; controls and manages international competition by national representative rowers in international competition and sanctions international competition by non-representative rowers. The sport of Rowing consists of the Olympic and Paralympic Discipline and Indoor Rowing on ergo machines which represents the mass participation discipline of the sport. RowSA has participated in the Olympic Games since 1928.