The first lightweight events were added to the World Championships in 1974 for men and 1985 for women. Lightweight rowing was added to the Olympics in 1996 but this came under threat in 2002 when the Programme Commission of the IOC recommended that, outside combat sports and weightlifting, there should not be weight category events. The executive board overturned this recommendation and lightweight rowing continues at the Olympics, though only in the men's and women's double sculls.

There are two Olympic-class lightweight events: men's double sculls and women's double sculls. From 1996 - 2016 the men's Lightweight 4- was included in the Olympics.
What are the Olympic light weight events.
Two Olympic lightweight events are men's double sculls and women's double sculls