An International Canoe Federation Sports Education Centre (ICFSEC) is set to be established at the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China to promote paddle sports.
The ICF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Canoe Association (CCA) and Zhejiang University that focuses on education, research, training of coaches and referees and branding among other areas.
The collaboration will also see the parties work together to strengthen the position of paddle sports within university sport and at the Asian Games.
The ICFSEC office will be established at the Zhejiang University China Water Sports Development Centre, with core programmes set to be delivered across multiple disciplines.
As part of the tie-up, ICF will help promote branded events such as the Elite Universities Water Sports Open in Zhejiang to improve the organisation and standard of canoeing campus events.
Training programmes for coaches and referees will be provided as part of the MoU, hoping it will pave the way for participants to work with ICF and CCA events in the future. Other areas of collaboration will see all parties promote recreational paddling.
ICF and CCA will also identify research needs for developing the sport with support from Zhejiang University, focusing on sports equipment development, data analysis, intelligent training systems and sports medicine rehabilitation.
“We want to use this cooperation with Zhejiang University and CCA to establish exchange opportunities in the field of artificial intelligence, biomechanics and scientific research with inputs from experts that will benefit the wider paddling community,” ICF President Mr Thomas Konietzko said.
“We aim to make canoeing and kayaking more global and I am sure this powerful alliance will move our sport forward.”
“The collaboration between Zhejiang University, ICF and the CCA represents a new model of cooperation," said Asian Canoe Confederation and Chinese Canoe Association Vice-President Li Xin.
“Through this powerful alliance, we hope to promote the high-quality development of water sports in areas such as talent cultivation, international exchange, event organisation, and scientific research.”
“This partnership represents the first strategic cooperation platform established between Zhejiang University and an international sports federation,” Chairman of the Zhejiang University Council, Mr Ren Shaobo, said.
“It not only serves as a meaningful practice in advancing China’s ambitions as a sporting powerhouse through a new model of school-federation collaboration but also marks a major step forward in uniting our shared vision, intelligence, and efforts to promote the high-quality development of sports in China.”
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