As organisers in La Seu d’Urgell are getting the final preparations done for the first International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of 2025, the Catalonian town is still reaping the benefits from the last time it hosted the event.
The venue built for the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 hosts World Cups regularly and has also staged the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in 1999, 2009 and 2019, with a fourth edition set for 2027.
In 2024, the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final was held at the historic Segre Olympic Park, with the town delivering an unforgettable event – not just in athletic prowess, but also in economic impact and community engagement.
A total of 6,779 visitors, including fans, athletes, team officials, and accredited staff, from Spain and the rest of the world attended the event, with the Net Promoter Scores (NPS) well above the excellent mark of 50.
The total financial impact recorded was €3.32 million, with €1.9 million – 57 per cent of that overall sum – directly benefiting the local economy.
These numbers include spending on accommodation, food, local markets, and other services in La Seu d’Urgell.
According to a detailed economic impact assessment, conducted by THE WHATSONS by Eiendom Gruppen SL, for every €1 invested by organisers, the return was an exceptional €15.27.
There was also a significant boost in employment which boosted local businesses, with the event helping to create the equivalent of 33.67 full-time jobs.
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“For a city like La Seu d'Urgell, with a population of 13,000, it is essential that an event like this, with such an impact on the region, be of major importance,” Meritxell Rodriguez, Manager of the venue, said.
“The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup legitimises the use of the 1992 Olympic venue over the years.
“This is the path we want to continue in promoting the facility.”
The 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu will be the first of the five-stop series.
Athletes will battle it out in Pau, France, Prague, Czechia, and Ljubljana, Slovenia before heading to the final in Augsburg, Germany.
The programme in Spain will begin with the African Reference Race on June 5, where athletes competing for an African National Federation will be in action.
The World Cup will begin on June 6, with men's and women's kayak heats and finals. The men's and women's canoe heats and finals are scheduled for June 7, followed by kayak cross on June 8.
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