Women Added to Canoeing World Championships
24 Mar
The International Canoe Federation, the governing body of world competitive canoeing, plans for the first time to allow women to compete in its Olympic disciplines, the organization recently announced HERE.
Women’s singles events — C-1 in the sport’s parlance — in flatwater sprinting and whitewater slalom will be an official part of the 2010 World Championships held in Poznan, Poland. Women’s races in those disciplines will be contested as “demonstration events” at this year’s World Championships in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The ICF made the decision at its Board Meeting last week in Lausanne, Switzerland. ICF President José Perurena López of Spain hailed his organization’s decision.
“The ICF had some very constructive discussions this week and a common theme was the need to improve our gender equity in canoeing competitions,” he said. “By adding Women’s C1 competitions to the World Championships we are well on our way to achieving our objectives.”
Women do compete in some Olympic kayaking events — both flatwater and whitewater slalom — that men contest.
The ICF also took steps at its meeting to make its sport more open to persons with disabilities, including a push for the inclusion of canoeing in the Paraolympic Games.
