With less than 100 days to go for the 2025 International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships, Paddle Australia has announced they are teaming up with the Penrith City Council.
Set to be held from September 29 to October 4 at the iconic Penrith Whitewater Stadium, it will be the biggest Canoe Slalom event in Australia since the Olympic Games Sydney 2000.
Paddle Australia and Penrith City Council have been working together since the construction of the Penrith Whitewater Stadium for the Games and have also partnered regularly for national events.
Penrith locals and Olympic champion sisters Jessica Fox and Noemie Fox will have a chance to fight for world glory on home waters, with the ICF's flagship event for Canoe Slalom this year adding to the legacy of the Olympic venue.
Paddle Australia President Andrew Trim, who won a kayak double 500m silver when Sydney hosted the Games, expressed his delight at the partnership and shed light on the power of the Penrith community’s support.
“There’s a history of major events in the region, obviously kick-starting with Sydney 2000, and it’s nice to be bringing a major event back to Penrith, and it doesn’t happen without the support of the council,” Trim said.
“It’s not full circle, but it certainly brings a synergy back to Sydney - we’re 25 years later and it’s great that the same course that hosted the Olympic Games then can be used again for a competition at that level.
“I fully expect the local community to get behind it - the athletes that are competing now were babies in Sydney so it’s great to see them get the opportunity to race at home,” he said.
More than 300 athletes from 40 countries are expected to be in action in Western Sydney.
Many of the Olympic and World Championships gold medallists, who will be battling it out in Australia, are currently competing in the ongoing ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series.
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Last month, premium tickets for the 2025 ICF Slalom World Championships were released to fans to celebrate the 100-day countdown.
Head of the Host Organising Committee Richard Fox added that he looks forward to working with the Penrith City Council again.
“The Penrith City Council’s support of the 2025 World Championships means much more than a sponsorship arrangement - it’s a circle of life story for our sport.
“In 1997, the International Canoe Federation, Australian Canoeing (as it was), and Penrith City Council were instrumental in ensuring the Whitewater Stadium was built to hold the canoe slalom events at Sydney 2000.
“The City maintained and operated the venue for more than 20 years following the Olympics, and it is wonderful that the Council has come on board to back the event as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sydney 2000 and everything that has happened in between.
“The City support will enable us to promote the event widely throughout the community, bringing a great experience to the Penrith region, and keeping us firmly on the map as a destination for major sporting events.”
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