The International Canoe Federation has opened its first-ever Excellence Centre in Hangzhou, China.
A key initiative of the International Federation's Fit For Future Evolution strategy, the centre will be based at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre.
The state-of-the-art facility hosted the first-ever multi-discipline ICF Hangzhou Super Cup last year and builds on the legacy of the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
ICF President Mr Thomas Konietzko and the Hangzhou Sports Bureau unveiled a plaque to celebrate the announcement at the ICF Paddle Summit in the Chinese city.
The ICF Hangzhou Excellence Centre is the first of many such projects that are to be established across continents, aimed at growing paddle sports locally, regionally, and internationally.
The long-term goal is to build a global network of centres with one in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Pan America, ultimately elevating paddle sports to new heights.
From grassroots initiatives to elite development, the excellence centres will create a vibrant, sustainable, and interconnected ecosystem for paddle sports.
Among the objectives includes the delivery of training programmes to develop expertise in coaching, officiating and event management and strengthen National Federations by supporting participation, administration, and competition.
Through the excellence centres, the ICF also aims to help National Federations create sustainable strategies for competitions, raise the profile of paddle sports in the region and engage communities, especially the youth.
“The ICF Hangzhou Excellence Centre is our next chapter in what has already been a fruitful partnership with this beautiful city,” ICF President Mr Thomas Konietzko said.
“The first of many, this is an important step for our development activities moving forward as we look to give athletes and coaches the best training and education.
“I am sure the excellence centre in Hangzhou will help make paddle sports more popular in China and in the region by engaging the youth and have benefits internationally, nationally, and most importantly, regionally.”
ICF Vice President Dr Cecilia Farias said: “This is the first project that we are launching as the excellence centre, and we are proud at the ICF to have such an important partner in Hangzhou, the Chinese Canoe Association and the Asian Canoe Confederation supporting us.
“The idea is to give not just training and regular activities, but also to deliver modules of education, from which all participants can benefit.
“Athletes who are participating in Talent Identification Programme (TIP) camps all year should aim to come here for a special TIP camp in China.”
Hangzhou Sports Bureau leaders said: “Firstly, thanks to the ICF's trust and support to establish the Hangzhou Excellence Centre at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre.
“The global debut highly matches Hangzhou's peoples strive for progress and courage for innovation.
“We hope the ICF and Hangzhou can take the excellence centre as a new start to jointly improve Hangzhou's international image and facilitate the development of canoeing.”
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