ICF Canoe Sprint Committee activities Q2 2025

New Olympic Cycle is Underway as 2025 Season Begins 

The ICF carried out the new fixed programme for the ICF major events under the concept of having a consistent programme, gender balance, canoe-kayak event balance, same events for World Championships and World Cup (ideally for Continental Championships too) and to keep C4. We had good opportunities to see how the new World Ranking System worked in World Cup 1 in Szeged, Hungary and World Cup 2 in Poznan, Poland where we could exchange the opinions with team leaders and coaches. These valuable comments and opinions were promptly reflected at the Working Group meeting discussion for new Olympic Qualification System on June 20. We will keep on communicating with NF representatives, team leaders and our stakeholders. The ICF will organise the workshop for the new Olympic Qualification System in Milan during ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.

Developing Young Talent in Asia Pacific 

I joined the Asia Pacific Sprint Cup in Komatsu, Japan from May 8 to 11. This competition is for junior and U21 for the purpose of the further development of the younger athletes and the promotion of the friendships in the Asia Pacific area. More than 200 athletes from six nations participated in this competition, with India and Mongolia attending for first time.

Officials Pass the Test in China 

The 2025 Asian Canoe Confederation (ACC) Canoe Sprint Asian Championships in Nanchang, China saw the successful conclusion of a seminar for the International Technical Officials (ITOs). Alison Harris, a ICF Canoe Sprint Committee Member and Chief Judge at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 lead the seminar. A total of 16 ITOs passed their final assessment. It is important to develop the skills of the ITOs in each continent. Alison told us that every candidate had a good desire to complete the test. I would like to express my gratitude to the organisation of the seminar and examination by the ACC and the Chinese Canoe Association.

Water Level in Poznan 

The second World Cup of the season in Poznan, Poland was successfully concluded. A total of 45 National Federation and the ICF team attended this competition. We also had great races in Paracanoe. At Lake Malta, the water is replaced every four-year Olympic cycle, and there were concerns about whether sufficient water levels would be secured. Thanks to the great efforts by Organising Committee and Polish Canoe Federation, we could maintain the water level which met our competition rules even though we had to relocate the positions of pontoons and boat control etc.  We could have very good races in fair conditions.  I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organisers and Polish Canoe Federation. I would also like to express my thanks to the great cooperations by teams under the unusual circumstance.

By Toshi Furuya, Chair of the ICF Canoe Sprint Committee