ICF Paracanoe Committee activities Q3 2025

Push for Asian Para Games

The July to September period has been amongst the busiest of the year. August began with a trip by the President and I to the Asian Paralympic Committee Bi-Annual General Assembly in Astana, Kazakhstan.  Along with four other sports we made the case for Paracanoe to be included in the Asian Para Games.  A strategic priority for the ICF is to be included in all Continental Para Games.

Success in Milan

This was immediately followed by the World Championships in Milan.  Approximately 190 entries were received from 32 nations. Singapore and Cyprus competed for the first time. Georgia was also represented for the first time by veteran champion Serheii Yemelianov formerly of Ukraine.  He did not disappoint as he regained his World Championship title in the men’s KL3 event.  Also for the first time, Great Britain’s Emma Wiggs, sidelined by shoulder surgery, was the live commentator for the ICF.

Debut for Paracanoe

The Milan World Championships was followed by the Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gyor, Hungary in early September.  Paracanoe events were officially featured for the first time.  Also included were events for upper limb impairments as well as intellectual impairment, visual Impairment and other impairment types recognised by the IPC.  Almost 90 entries were received from NFs from three continents.

General Assembly

 September closed off with Michel Alarcon and I representing the ICF at the IPC General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea.  As widely reported, the GA voted to allow the National Paralympic Committees of Russia and Belarus to compete in upcoming Paralympic Games and IPC-run sports.  This decision does not directly affect International Federations events who must make their own decisions on the issue.

By John Edwards, Chair of the ICF Paracanoe Committee