ICF Canoe Polo Committee activities Q4 2025

As the year draws to a close it is a time to reflect on 2025 and look forward to an exciting 2026. 

2025 

As readers will be aware Canoe Polo deliberately has its World Championships every second/even year to enable stronger support for the Continental Championships and to protect amateur athletes’ budgets as best as possible in the between year. 

This year saw Continental Championships across the globe and congratulations to all the organisers and new referees. The athletes, while not always saying so, I’m sure appreciate your efforts and a special note must go to the organisers in Avranches, France who stepped in late to ensure the European Championships took place. On behalf of all those in Canoe Polo, thank you! 

The 2025 IWGA World Games must surely be a highlight for all those who competed and who gave volunteer time to officiate/organise. A truly memorable The World Games with the venue dressed to such a high standard. Thank you, Chengdu! 

The first formal Level 1 Coaching Course held immediately prior to the Asian Championships in Malaysia proved to be a great success with the content a credit to ICF CAP Member Mario Perez Lopez. I’m sure we will see more of these. 

2026 

Recently, the ICF CAP Committee met in person at the FFCK offices in Paris, France. With some online and numerous ICF staff involved it was a very productive meeting. 

It was a very busy meeting with topics covered included - coaching materials recorded in 2024 (for launch early 2026); the continued Yupin Sports sponsorships and equipment supply to Argentina, Venezuela, Philippines. Indonesia and Myanmar; referee activity, moving the exam online; the 2026 World Championships including the first bulletin, qualified teams, wildcard expressions of interest, special invitations and decisions around Referee Managers and Referees for 2026; rules – finalisation of decisions following the online seminar; and in accordance with the ICF Statutes an update of various Canoe Polo Appendices (now published online).  

Following the team meeting and a number of wildcard invitations along with ITO invitations have already been sent out for next year’s World Championships. Positive replies are already coming back. We look forward to the World Championships in Duisburg in September where we anticipate the final rounds will see 76 teams competing. 

For those who celebrate, I close by wishing you all and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

By Greg Smale, Chair of the ICF Canoe Polo Committee