ICF Canoe Sprint Committee activities Q1 2026

First Official Technical Visit for LA28 

The first official technical visit for LA28 took place from January 27 to 29. Organised by Hoichan Kwon, Canoe Sports Manager for LA28, the meetings covered eight functional areas such as VNI (Venue Infrastructure) and EVM (Event Management). They were very fruitful. The Marine Stadium in Long Beach offers strong Olympic presentation potential and spectator proximity.  The competition will be scheduled around favourable conditions, and they are in accordance with the ICF guidance. The ICF and Organising Committee for LA28 will work together to make this significant event a successful one.

Meeting in Budapest

Inviting ICF President Thomas Konietzko, Paracanoe Committee Chair John Edwards and Canoe Marathon Committee Chair Ruud Heijselaar, the annual Canoe Sprint Committee meeting was held from February 13 to 15 in newly- inaugurated ICF Budapest office. 

We had very fruitful discussions over the following topics: 

1. Information and report by the ICF President after the IOC Session in Milan 
2. Report of the first official site visit to LA28 
3. Event programme for Brisbane 2032 
4. Discussion with the Canoe Marathon Committee Chair and member 
5. Implementation of the mew qualification system for LA28 
6. Discussion with the Paracanoe Committee Chair 
7. Competition schedule 
8. Rule changes 
9. Selection of the venues for future ICF major events 
10. Sports presentation and sports initiation 
11. New technology and media 
12. Athletes’ expectations 
13. Organisation of World Paddle Games 

In terms of the rule changes, we discussed the long-distance events deeply with the aim to make them more attractive and fair. 

Road to LA28 

Regarding the new qualification system for LA28, we will start the new path soon. The ICF has unveiled its new Olympic qualification system that has been designed to deliver clearer storylines, higher stakes and increased excitement in the build-up to the Games. 

At the heart of the new system is an Olympic Ranking that will turn the biggest Canoe Sprint events into decisive steps on the road to the Games, allowing fans to follow nations as they battle for quota places. 

Developed through extensive consultation with National Federations and key stakeholders following the formation of the ICF’s Olympic Qualification Working Group, the two-phase qualification process will see countries secure quota spots through the Olympic Ranking and continental qualifiers. 

With qualification points on offer at World Championships, World Cups and Continental Championships, the stakes will be raised at every major event in 2026 and 2027, driving greater participation, deeper fields and heightened interest throughout the Olympic cycle. 

With the Olympic Ranking in place, our events will be even more competitive and compelling starting with Asian Canoe Sprint Championships in Hefei, China in April followed by the World Cup #1 in Szeged, Hungary in May.  

I am also excited by the prospect of our Continental Championships where nations will seek to earn Olympic Ranking points. 

I am proud of all the work put in to create this qualification system and would like to thank everyone who participated in the consultation process. 

Brisbane 2032 Programme 

The Canoe Sprint Committee discussed the Brisbane 2032 programme again. 

The key principles for Brisbane 2032 include entertainment value, event diversity, youth appeal, accessibility and universality, sustainability and cost efficiency, digital-first approach and preserving the canoe identity. 

Athletes are expected to be spotlighted especially for social media and digital content. It is very important to keep the good balance between the traditional core part of our sport and the evolutional part. Supporting emerging National Federations with resources and assistance, the ICF hopes to tap into regions with high growth potential.  

Progression System 

The new rules of the progression system have been approved by the Board of Directors.  The new systems which are included in the appendix in the Canoe Sprint competition rules have been approved in the Board of Directors’ meeting during my second visit to the Budapest office on March 13.      

To avoid the risk of predictability and tactical manipulation, we developed alternative semi-final progression formats. We will have fairer lane allocation and fulfill our objective of our sport – to race in the shortest possible time. 

The special progression systems only for Olympic single boats were eliminated. As these approved changes have the immediate effect, the competition schedule for World Championships and World Cups were modified.