The European Canoe Association (ECA) visited Istanbul to inspect the proposed Canoe Sprint venue for the 2027 European Games.  

ECA President Jean Zoungrana and ECA Sport and Event Manager Jovana Stanojevic travelled to the Turkish city after the ECA Extraordinary Congress in Antalya to understand how the city can host high-level competitions smoothly.     

The duo discussed a range of topics and explored the feasibility of the site in terms of both infrastructure and event organisation.  

The focus was also on the venue's ability to meet the logistical demands during the multi-sport event.  

The visit marked a significant step in the planning process, with more meetings with various stakeholders to follow.   

Representatives from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Turkish Canoe Federation and the Turkish National Olympic Committee were also present during the visit.  

Istanbul was awarded the hosting rights for the fourth edition of the European Games in March this year.  

Scheduled to be held in June 2027, athletes will have the chance to earn quotas for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. 

Canoe Sprint has been part of the European Games since the first edition in Baku, Azerbaijan.  

The Krakow-Malopolska 2023 European Games saw Canoe Slalom make its debut.   

Pictures by ECA.