The International Canoe Federation has entered an exciting chapter in its long history with the official opening of its new headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.
Located in a bustling business district in the Hungarian capital, Capital Square has become the new home of the global governing body for paddle sport.
ICF President Mr. Thomas Konietzko and Vice Presidents Dr. Cecilia Farias and Mr. Lluis Rabaneda were joined by Hungary’s State Secretary for Sport Dr. Adam Schmidt and Deputy State Secretary for Sport Mr. Gabor Schmidt and Hungarian three-time Olympic champion Mrs. Katalin Kovacs to officially open the new premises within the office complex.
A special ceremony was held on Tuesday, with Mr. Konietzko and Dr. Schmidt signing a ceremonial golden boat to mark the grand opening and herald a new era for the ICF which will celebrate its 102nd anniversary next month.
Members of the ICF Executive Committee and Board of Directors were present for the occasion along with staff, who have been moving into the new offices since the federation secured the keys in late September.
Speaking at the official opening, Mr. Konietzko said he was thrilled to move the ICF’s headquarters to a country that has such a rich history within paddle sport and the International Federation.
“Today, history has come full circle,” said Mr. Konietzko.
“In the mid-1970s, the ICF opened its first official office here in Budapest.
“Now we are officially back in Budapest, and we want to continue our success story from here.
“There is hardly any other country as enthusiastic about sport as Hungary and one of its most successful sports is canoeing.
“The Hungarian Government has recognised how important sports, physical activity and high-quality international sporting events are for the health and cohesion of a society.
“So it’s only logical that Hungary became attractive to International Federations like ourselves and we are proud to be here.”
Hungary has a strong legacy in paddle sport having produced a long line of Olympic and Paralympic champions and World Championship gold medallists.
The country is also a regular host of major paddle sport competitions, with Szeged set to stage next year’s ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup, which will be the first step on the Olympic pathway towards LA28, and hold the 2027 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships.
“Canoeing is a national treasure in Hungary, and thanks to the outstanding successes and role models in recent decades, it has become a cornerstone of the Hungarian sport,” said Dr Schmidt.
“With 28 gold medals, it is our third most successful sport in the history of the Summer Olympics, and this year, thanks to the highly successful Canoe Sprint and Canoe Marathon World Championships, the sport’s domestic list of honours has grown with further outstanding results.
“We also be proud of all the international canoeing events hosted in Hungary, with Szeged set to host another World Cup next year and the World Championships in 2027.
“The Hungarian federation is doing a remarkable work in all areas, and last fall it opened the doors of the Kovacs Katalin National Kayak-Canoe Academy, a new stronghold not only for the canoeing sport, but for Hungarian sports in general.
“All of this contributed to our latest significant success in sports diplomacy, achieved with the support of the Government.
“It is a great honour and a special opportunity for Hungarian sport as a whole that the International Canoe Federation has established its headquarters in our country.
“Thank you Mr. President Koneitzko for this trust.”
The State Secretary for Sport added that he hopes the International Federation’s new headquarters in Budapest will give new impetus to domestic sports diplomacy and that Hungarian sports professionals will be able to take advantage of the opportunities now opening up.
The relocation of the headquarters, which was endorsed by the ICF Congress last year, has allowed the organisation to significantly expand its staff to respond to the global growth of the sport.
The administrative team now represents 14 nations from across five continents with staff also located in offices in Hangzhou, China and Lausanne, Switzerland.
Mr. Konietzko said the new employees will help to strengthen the delivery and management of events, enhance services for National Federations and athletes, and improve broadcasting, social media and digital presence.
“We owe this new power of our federation to our Hungarian friends,” said Mr. Konietzko.
“These new headquarters are a symbol of shared ambition and collaboration.
“Together, Hungary and the ICF will build a stronger and brighter future for paddle sport worldwide.”
The establishment of the headquarters in Budapest aligns with the ICF’s bold Fit for Future Evolution strategy which will see the federation relaunch as Paddle Worldwide in mid-2026.
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