Milan is ready for a “full-scale rehearsal” as it prepares to stage the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships for the first time in 10 years.
From April 26 to 27, the historic Idroscalo Regatta Course will host the Milan International Race after undergoing extensive upgrades.
The event provides the perfect opportunity for Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe paddlers to test the venue before the World Championships takes place from August 20 to 24.
It is also a key milestone for organisers as they look to ensure the course is ready to host the ICF flagship event.
“As the official test event, it gives us a vital opportunity to evaluate every aspect of the venue – from race operations to infrastructure and logistics,” said Antonio Rossi, Vice President of the Italian Canoe Kayak Federation (FICK).
“It's essentially a full-scale rehearsal that allows us to fine-tune every detail before August.
“Just as importantly, it provides valuable feedback from athletes, coaches, and international delegations that will help us deliver an exceptional experience later this summer.”
The International Race will serve as the second and final selection race for Italy’s senior national teams as paddlers look to secure their place at the upcoming two ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups in Szeged and Poznan.
Several other countries, including Austria and Switzerland, are also poised to participate in the event as they gear up for the new season.
“We’re expecting a high-caliber competition, with many of our paddlers using this event to get a feel for the course under race conditions,” said Rossi.
“We’ll see our athletes racing not just for medals, but for a place on the team — and doing so in front of a home crowd, on the same course that will host the World Championships.
“It’s a high-stakes, high-motivation scenario for everyone involved.”
What improvements have been made to Idroscalo?
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first canoeing competition that was held at the Idroscalo Regatta Course in 1935.
Since 1999, the venue has staged many international events, including the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships.
Thanks to strong collaboration between FICK, local institutions and regional authorities, several key improvements have been made to the course ahead of this year’s World Championships.
Among those include the installation of a new starting system for greater precision and consistency and the full restoration of the basin to improve quality and ensure a safer racing environment
The FICK has also upgraded team areas, changing rooms and public services to enhance the overall experience for athletes and spectators, and improved the entire network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity across the venue to support real-time data transmission, timing systems, live streaming and media operations.
Rossi said the goal is to make Idroscalo “one of the premier Canoe Sprint venues in the world – not just 2025 but for the future of the sport in Italy”.
“We’re incredibly proud and excited, hosting a World Championships is both a great honour and a major responsibility,” added Rossi.
“For the Italian Canoe Kayak Federation, it represents the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and international success.
“It’s also a unique opportunity to promote the sport across the country, engage the public, and inspire the next generation of athletes.
“Following Italy’s historic silver medal for Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini in the men’s C2 500m at the Paris Olympics, we’ve proven that we can compete — and win — on the world stage.
“Milano 2025 will be our chance to build on that momentum, and to showcase our athletes, our venue, and our vision for the sport.”
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