25 years after it hosted canoe slalom at the Sydney Olympics, Penrith Whitewater Stadium will once again welcome the world’s best paddlers after the International Canoe Federation on Friday awarded the city the hosting rights for the 2025 world championships.
The ICF board also voted to stage the 2025 canoe sprint and paracanoe world championships in Milan, Italy, and also announced France, Portugal, Hungary and Bulgaria will host world championship events in other paddling disciplines.
The return to Sydney comes after a major redevelopment and refurbishment of the 2000 Olympic venue. Penrith last hosted a senior world championships in 2005, and attracts the world’s best paddlers for annual summer events.
Penrith will host the canoe slalom and extreme canoe slalom world titles.
ICF President Jose Perurena said returning to an Olympic venue was important for the sport.
“Returning to Sydney underlines how our Olympic venues can provide a wonderful legacy for a host city,” Mr Perurena said.
“Nearly all of our canoe slalom Olympic venues continue to host international events. Next year we will celebrate 50 years since slalom made its Olympic debut in Munich, by returning to Augsburg for the world championships.
“Penrith will also be an important host, ahead of the possibility of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic Games.”
Canoe sprint and paracanoe will return to Milan for the first time since 2015, and one year before the Italian city hosts the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Montemor-o-Velho has been awarded the rights for the 2025 ICF junior and U23 canoe sprint world championships, while the junior and U23 canoe slalom and extreme slalom world titles will return to Foix in France, 15 years after it last hosted a major ICF event.
The 2025 ICF canoe marathon world championships will be held in Gyor, Hungary, the 2025 ICF world dragon boat championships were awarded to Ruse in Bulgaria, and the 2024 ICF ocean racing world titles will be contested in Madeira, Portugal.
The ICF board also announced an ICF canoe slalom and extreme canoe slalom world cup will be held in 2023 at the Paris Olympic venue, one year before the Games. Prague (Czech), Augsburg (Germany), La Seu (Spain) and Tacen (Slovenia) will also host world cups in 2023.
Szeged in Hungary and Poznan in Poland will host ICF canoe sprint and paracanoe world cups in 2023.
The ICF board also unanimously endorsed updated Covid-19 health controls ahead of scheduled competitions this year.
