The International Canoe Federation is partnering with the city of Ile-Saint-Denis on Africa Station, a fan zone dedicated to celebrating African culture and sport.
Located close to the Stade de France, the Africa Station will encourage local communities to take up paddling and highlight the sport's growth in the continent.
Kayak, stand-up paddle and dragon boat activities have been planned for the initiative, set to run from July 29 to August 9.
A total of 18 African athletes will participate in canoeing at Paris 2024, including Mathis Soudi of Morocco, who won a bronze medal in the K1 event at the 2023 World Championships, becoming the first African paddler to do so.
“The African continent is continuing to enjoy great growth in paddle sports,” ICF President Thomas Konietzko said.
“I have been delighted to witness this development with more and more people taking up our sport and further events being organised in all parts of Africa.
“The Africa Station is a fantastic project which I'm sure will be a huge success during the Olympic Games.
“It will inspire people from this great continent to follow their sporting dreams and hopefully become Olympic champions in canoeing one day.”
Benjamin Boukpeti of Togo, who won a historic first-ever Olympic medal for the West African nation in the K1 at Beijing 2008, praised the initiative and said it is a great opportunity for “African sport to showcase its athletes to the world”.
“Africa Station is a marvellous opportunity for African sport to showcase its athletes to the world,” he said.
“It's an opportunity to showcase athletes, publicise their achievements and inspire new athletes.
“It's also an opportunity to highlight the whole performance context. Athletes don't arrive at the highest level on their own.
“They come from a social, cultural and family background, and from a federal sports organisation that it's important to understand and promote.
“I invite you to come and look at the temporary nautical base. Of course, I'll be stopping a few times.
“Feel free to try out the water sports, rub shoulders with African athletes and soak up the Olympic atmosphere. Come and celebrate African sport with us.”
The paddle sports at the Africa Station were made possible through ICF partners BYD and NELO.
BYD is supporting the dragon boat activity.
Dragon boat, as the name suggests, is designed to resemble a dragon, with origins from China and is usually a 10-seater or a 20-seater.
NELO, a top canoe and kayak manufacturing company, has donated kayak boats for the initiative and has also agreed to donate them for the permanent nautical centre that will serve as a legacy of the Games.
Apart from paddle sports, the Africa Station will host medal presentations, concerts, broadcasts of the Opening and Closing ceremonies, and interactions with athletes.
“The Africa Station offers the best experience to share the Olympic Games spirit in a multicultural atmosphere,” ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf said.
“It’s the meeting point between the great Paris inhabitants and the best African athletes.
“Don’t hesitate to come to Ile-Saint-Denis Africa Station and live the Games with heart and passion.”
Joao Da Costa Alegre, ANOCA’s First Vice President, Confederation of African Canoeing President and ICF Executive Committee member, added that the fan zone “is a project to bring together young people during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where cultural and sporting programs will be carried out, such as concerts, exhibitions, workshops, gastronomy.”
The paddling activities at the Africa Station will be open from 10:00 to 17:00 from July 29 to August 5 and from 14:00 to 18:00 from August 6 to 9.
The ICF will provide technical support and help coordinate guests' and athletes' visits.
ANOCA and ICF representatives will be present at the official inauguration of the Africa Station on July 29 at 10:00, with ANOCA celebrating canoe sport on August 6.
For more details, contact ICF coordinator Jean Christophe Gonneaud at jc.gonneaud@canoeicf.com.
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