European Canoe Association activities

Preparations for Congress 

On October 24, the European Canoe Association (ECA) Board held an online meeting. This meeting focused on preparations for the Extraordinary Congress on November 9 and addressed several subjects, including the ECA's economic model, in particular membership fees, and proposals for the 2025 Congress.  

The planned changes aim to shift from a single tariff system to a pricing model with three levels, depending on the size of the federations and countries, similar to the ICF model. 

During the meeting, various reports were presented to monitor the ECA's activities. These included updates on the 2024 communication activities, the organisation of various European Championships, and the training camps held in North Macedonia (Canoe Slalom) and Switzerland (Wildwater Canoeing) as part of the development project.  

An update was also provided on the ECA competition calendar, progress on bids to host the European Championships and European Multisport Championships, and the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in the 2025 Championships. Additionally, changes to the Dragon Boat rules, available on the ECA website, were validated. 

Technical Committee Chairs appointed 

The next Board meeting was held online on December 12, where applications of the candidates for the ECA Technical Committees were reviewed, the constitution of the Athletes' Committee was discussed, and preparations for the 2025 Congress continued.  

A total of 51 names were received for consideration for the roles of chairs and members of the ECA Technical Committees from 20 National Federations. The ECA Board of Directors held a secret ballot to appoint the new chairs, and the newly appointed chairs will then recommend to the ECA Board for validation who will be the members of their respective committees.  

The following candidates have been appointed as Technical Committee Chairs: 

• CANOE SPRINT: Jovana Stanojević (SRB) 
• CANOE SLALOM: Colin Woodgate (GBR) 
• PARACANOE: Robert Weisz (HUN) 
• CANOE MARATHON: Ruud Heijselaar (NED) 
• WILDWATER CANOEING: Manuela Gawehn (GER) 
• STAND UP PADDLING: Noemi Horvath (HUN) 
• CANOE POLO: Alberto Baroni (ITA) 
• CANOE OCEAN RACING: Roberto Liberato (SUI) 
• CANOE FREESTYLE: Terry Best (GBR) 
• DRAGON BOAT: Ulrike Schreck (GER) 
• RECREATIONAL: Gabriele Koch (GER) 
• ANTI-DOPING AND MEDICAL: Jane Gibson (GBR) 

Istanbul visit  

ECA Sport and Event Manager Jovana Stanojević and I visited Istanbul to inspect the proposed venue for the Canoe Sprint competitions at the 2027 European Games. The European Games, which are scheduled for June 2027 will be especially significant as they will give athletes the chance to earn the quotas for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. 

The venue, which is centrally located in Istanbul, offers great potential to promote canoeing and raise its profile on the international stage. During the visit, Stanojević and I addressed a range of technical questions, exploring the feasibility of the site in terms of both infrastructure and event organisation. A key focus of the discussion was to ensure that the venue can meet the logistical demands of hosting a high-level Canoe Sprint competition. 

New Partnership for the ECA 

During the Canoe Polo World Championships in Deqing, China, held in October, the ECA President visited Peisheng Company, a company specialising in nautical equipment, particularly in canoeing. This visit culminated in the signing of a partnership agreement, aimed at supporting the development of the ECA's activities and facilitating access for athletes and National Federations to the company's equipment.

ECA Extraordinary Congress 

To validate the new statutes and strategic development plan and to review progress on the sports programmes for various disciplines, an Extraordinary Congress was held on November 9 in Antalya, Turkiye, alongside the ICF Congress. 

The adoption of new statutes and an ambitious strategic development plan marked a historic moment for the ECA. This was achieved with strong support from the National Federations, demonstrating their desire to give new impetus to our organisation.

A collective and inclusive process 

The success of these reforms is based on the exemplary participatory approach. Nearly 80 representatives from 20 different federations contributed through working groups, surveys, and extensive consultations. Their input at each stage has helped shape a shared vision, highlighting collaborative and inclusive governance. We express our deep gratitude to the working groups, ECA Board members, and National Federations for their dedication and commitment.

The adoption of the new statutes paves the way for several significant developments: 

1. Short-term: The creation of new sports committees, each composed of five members, and the establishment of athlete representation within the ECA. 
2. Medium-term: The Ordinary Congress in March 2025 will provide an opportunity to fill vacant positions and further integrate gender equity principles, including the election of a female vice-president. Recruitment of a professional CEO is also planned. 
3. Long-term: These reforms will allow the ECA to launch its development and sports projects with an organisation adapted to our ambitions. 

Feedback from delegates on governance and the sports programme 

Discussions on the sports programme provided a platform to present the progress made in each discipline, encouraging federations to contribute ideas that will shape the final version of the programme, due to be presented at the 2025 Congress. 

Regarding governance, although most delegates supported the proposals, some concerns were raised, particularly around gender equity and the structure of the ECA's bodies, suggesting areas for further improvement. 

In terms of the development project, there was a strong emphasis on the importance of inclusivity, especially for people with physical and mental disabilities, and the need to make the sport accessible to all. 

A new era for ECA 

With the adoption of the new statutes and the continued pursuit of our strategic projects, the ECA is entering a new era. Guided by a collective vision and ambitious objectives, we are working together to create a more inclusive and vibrant future for canoeing in Europe. 

By Jean Zoungrana, President of the European Canoe Association