Members of the International Canoe Federation recently presented to the Commonwealth Games Federation Sports Committee in London, England the case for Canoeing to become a Level 2 event and ultimately a full medal sport at future Games.
Although the sport has been a full medal event at the Olympics since 1936, it has yet to find its way onto the Commonwealth Games roster. Canada is a world power in the sport and its popularity is on the rise internationally.
Geoff Laplante, Canoe Kayak Canada’s representative to the Commonwealth Canoe Federation supports the ICF’s bid and says that full medal status would be a great incentive for many of Canada’s current crop of development age paddlers – including members of last year’s Provincial team champions from the North Bay Canoe Club.
"These things take time and building a strong foundation is key for long term success. I suspect that full medal status would not be possible until at least 2018 and for many of North Bay’s paddlers, who are quite talented by the way, that would be a very realistic goal. Let’s hope it all works out. It sure would be nice to increase international opportunities for local paddlers and the sport in general.”
Although the sport has been a full medal event at the Olympics since 1936, it has yet to find its way onto the Commonwealth Games roster. Canada is a world power in the sport and its popularity is on the rise internationally.
Geoff Laplante, Canoe Kayak Canada’s representative to the Commonwealth Canoe Federation supports the ICF’s bid and says that full medal status would be a great incentive for many of Canada’s current crop of development age paddlers – including members of last year’s Provincial team champions from the North Bay Canoe Club.
"These things take time and building a strong foundation is key for long term success. I suspect that full medal status would not be possible until at least 2018 and for many of North Bay’s paddlers, who are quite talented by the way, that would be a very realistic goal. Let’s hope it all works out. It sure would be nice to increase international opportunities for local paddlers and the sport in general.”
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