ICF Canoe Marathon Committee activities Q2 2025

Paracanoeing Training Camp in France 
In April, a second training camp for Para Canoe Marathon athletes and coaches from France, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands and Uruguay took place in Saint Nicolas de La Grave under the leadership of Jean Christophe Gonneaud. The camp focused on adapting marathon formats for Para athletes, testing equipment solutions and sharing best practices in classification, safety and athlete support. An important aspect was training on turning points which was new for most, but tactics were also taught. Joint meetings with Ruud Heijselaar, Chair of the ICF Canoe Marathon Committee, provided a valuable exchange on inclusion, competition structure and the future integration of Para marathon races at international level. The strong participation and energy was a positive step towards making marathon events more accessible to all Para athletes. 

Bid Inspection for Argentina 2026 
A technical inspection was held in Gualeguaychu, Argentina, following its bid to host the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in 2026. There were two places in Argentina, which would like to host a World Championships. Viedma (the finish place for the Rio Negro marathon) was among them. We received a good presentation but in the end it was decided by the CAM that Gualeguaychu should be the place for a World Championships. At the moment, the ICF Board has not yet made a decision but for Canoe Marathon Committee, Argentina is preferred. The inspection team assessed the course, infrastructure and organisational plans. Local authorities and the National Federation showed strong commitment and enthusiasm and underlined South America's willingness to host the world’s best. 

Camera on board  
During the ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships in Ponte de Lima, Portugal, the organisers in collaboration with Memosoft introduced an on-board camera technology, which offered exciting perspectives from the athlete's eye directly to the livestream audience. This innovation brought fans closer than ever to the race and showcased the intensity of marathon canoeing. A step forward in our ambition to increase media quality and spectator engagement at all major events. It will certainly be followed up in ICF events in the near future. Spectators at home can more intensely follow what is happening on the water. 

Committee 
Committee members are busy preparing for The World Games in Chengdu, where we are jointly filling the programme with Dragon Boat on August 9 and 10, which presents a significant challenge. The ICF and the Canoe Marathon and Dragon Boat Committees are working closely with the organisers to ensure we can show the best audience facilities for athletes who participate in both disciplines. The World Championships in Győr, Hungary where we expect another record number of participants, and the first Para Canoe Marathon World Championships, an ITO exam for nine candidates, and a TIP programme will be held. The TIP targets are America and Asia. A lot of attention is being paid to updating the technical requirements and the ranking system, but it's also the canoeing season, and the Committee members are also closely involved on the national competitions and, of course, the best time to go canoeing or practice another outdoor sport yourself. 

By Ruud Heijselaar, Chair of the ICF Canoe Marathon Committee