The International Canoe Federation, following consultation with the International Olympic Committee, has allocated quota places for the Tokyo Olympic Games following disruption to qualifications caused by Covid-19.

The ICF can now confirm that Mexico will make its first ever Olympic appearance in canoe slalom, and that 31 nations have now qualified for the slalom competition, the highest number since 1992, with qualifiers in Asia and Europe still to be decided.

Other countries to have now been allocated Olympic quotas in canoe sprint are Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Austria, China, Japan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Samoa and Sweden.

Joining Mexico in canoe slalom will be athletes from Argentina, Canada, USA and Cook Islands.

Allocations for canoe sprint were based on the 2019 ICF world championship results, and where insufficient athletes were available from the Americas, quotas were re-allocated.

In canoe slalom quotas were allocated on international rankings.

The cancellation of Pan American canoe slalom and canoe sprint qualifiers in Brazil, the suspension of canoe slalom rankings and a clarification of the canoe sprint qualification system presented new challenges to the planned qualification process.

“We share the disappointment of many athletes and countries that we have been unable to hold Olympic qualifying events in some regions because of Covid-19 health concerns,” ICF secretary-general, Simon Toulson, said.

“Fortunately we had a robust contingency plan in place, which we have now had to call upon in consultation with the IOC. We would all prefer to have athletes battling against each other on the water to earn places at the Tokyo Games, but unfortunately this has not been possible.

“But we are confident the outcome will remain the same – a group of very determined athletes from all over the world, fighting it out on the biggest sporting stage in the world for Olympic glory.”

Events to determine the final quota allocations in canoe sprint, paracanoe and canoe slalom are scheduled for next month (May).

The latest quota allocations for canoe sprint can be found here. 

The latest canoe slalom quota allocations can be found here.