ICF president reflects on a successful 2019 season and anticipates a busy Olympic year

International Canoe Federation (ICF) President Jose Perurena expressed optimism for the upcoming Olympic year, following an exceptional 2019 season. Last year saw remarkable achievements, including unprecedented viewership across TV and online platforms and social media engagement. These accomplishments provide an ideal foundation for a pivotal Olympic year. With three disciplines featured in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, canoeing is set to be one of the busiest sports in Tokyo. New Olympic heroes are anticipated to emerge from the exciting generation of athletes ready to challenge seasoned competitors.

Beyond the Games, world championships for other disciplines and international events are emphasized. The ICF aims to build on 2019's momentum, attracting more athletes and expanding global reach.

Key 2019 highlights:

• World championships and Olympic/Paralympic qualifiers in sprint, slalom, paracanoe.
• World titles in ocean racing, marathon, freestyle, wildwater.
• Record participation and viewing for ICF's stand up paddling (SUP) and extreme slalom world championships.

The SUP championships pioneered innovative streaming, TV coverage, and substantial prize money. Extreme slalom, the ICF's newest discipline, captured interest, predicting continued growth.

ICF development initiatives successfully introduced canoeing to new regions in 2019, with further expansion planned for 2020.

The 2020 calendar promises:

• World championships and Paralympic qualifiers for paracanoe.
• Further Olympic qualifiers for canoe slalom and sprint.
• Inaugural world championships for non-Olympic categories in sprint and slalom.
• World championships in canoe polo, marathon, ocean racing, wildwater, and dragon boat.
• U23 and junior world championships for canoe slalom and sprint.

The complete 2020 ICF calendar is available.

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