The International Canoe Federation can today reveal the candidates standing for election at this year’s Congress in Antalya, Turkiye.
Germany’s Thomas Konietzko, who has led the ICF since 2021, is the sole candidate for the role of President.
Spain’s Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles and Argentina’s Cecilia Farias are seeking re-election as ICF Vice Presidents.
Italy’s Luciano Buonfiglio is looking to be elected as ICF Vice President having held the role on an interim basis.
Slovakia’s Martin Stanovsky Jr is also a candidate for ICF Vice President.
Under ICF rules, at least one of the three elected Vice Presidents must be male and female.
China’s Li Xin, Turkiye’s Alper Cavit Kabakci, Hungary’s Peter Karai and Lebanon’s Mazen Ramadan have been nominated for the role of ICF Treasurer.
Canoe Ocean Racing and Stand Up Paddling are the only two ICF Technical Committees where there are challenges for Chair.
South Africa’s Colin Simpkins and Belgium’s Marian Sarbu will contest the position of Chair of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing Committee.
Hungary’s Noemi Horvath and Moldova’s Martin Marinov will face each other for the role of Chair of the ICF SUP Committee.
For the first time, the elected SUP Chair will subsequently hold a seat on the Board as the Commission will become a Committee following the Congress, due to the successful development of the sport and an increase in the number of National Federations participating in its World Championships.
All the other candidates for Technical Committee Chairs are uncontested with Germany’s Manuela Gawehn in Wildwater Canoeing, Canada’s John Edwards in Paracanoe, Japan’s Toshi Furuya in Canoe Sprint, Great Britain’s Greg Smale in Canoe Polo, Great Britain’s Terry Best in Canoe Freestyle and The Netherlands’ Ruud Heijselaar in Canoe Marathon.
Richard Fox has been nominated by Paddle Australia for the role of Chair of the ICF Canoe Slalom Committee.
Mr Fox, a multiple slalom world gold medallist who is the father of Australian Olympic champions Jessica Fox and Noemie Fox, is looking to succeed France’s Jean-Michel Prono who has opted not to stand again.
Mr Prono has served as Chair of the ICF Canoe Slalom Committee since 2004, playing a crucial role in raising the standard of the organisation, defining and processing an accurate judging process and introducing better services to athletes and teams.
The Frenchman also oversaw the creation and evolution of kayak cross which made a successful Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
Hong Kong’s Luk Wai-Hung is the sole candidate for the position of Chair of the ICF Dragon Boat Commission.
Great Britain’s Jane Gibson is seeking election as Chair of the ICF Medical and Anti-Doping Committee having taken on the role on an interim basis.
All those elected in the aforementioned positions will serve a four-year term from 2024 to 2028.
Elections will be held on November 8 – the final day of the ICF Congress in Antalya.
Committee members will be appointed by the new ICF Board of Directors at their first meeting, scheduled to be held on November 9.
All National Federations attending must complete the registration form.
Each National Federation can have a maximum of three attendees, of which one can vote.
If there are three attendees from the same federation, at least one much be of each gender.
Any additional attendees from a federation outside this limit must be registered as "observer" and will not sit at the National federation table.
Registrations close on October 8. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
Any proxy votes must also be notified in writing to congress@canoeicf.sport by October 8.
All Congress attendees are invited to the ICF Centenary Dinner held on November 9 and will celebrate 100 years of the global governing body for paddle sports.
The full list of candidates for the ICF elections can be found here.
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