European Canoe Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
European Canoe Association

Membership	45 member countries
Abbreviation	ECA
Founded	1993; 32 years ago (1993)
Affiliation	ICF
Affiliation date	1994
Headquarters	Zagreb
President	Jean Zoungrana
Official website

The European Canoe Association (ECA) is a big group that helps organize canoeing sports across Europe. Think of it like a main club for all things canoeing on the continent! It started in Rome, Italy, on December 11, 1993. Today, 45 different countries are part of this association. The ECA was officially recognized by the International Canoe Federation (ICF) in 1994. The ICF is the worldwide group for canoeing.

Sometimes, sports organizations have to make tough decisions. In 2022, due to a difficult situation, the ECA decided to temporarily stop athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing. They also paused officials from these countries from working at ECA events or attending meetings. However, in May 2023, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete again.

Canoeing Sports You Can Do

The ECA supports many exciting types of canoeing. Each one is a bit different and needs special skills!

• Canoe sprint

  This is like a race on flat water. Paddlers go as fast as they can over short distances.

• Canoe slalom

  Here, paddlers navigate a tricky course. They go through gates that hang over the water, trying not to touch them. It's all about skill and speed!

• Wildwater canoeing

  Imagine racing down a fast-flowing river with rapids! This sport is for brave paddlers who love adventure.

• Canoe marathon

  This is a long-distance race. Paddlers need lots of stamina to keep going for many kilometers.

• Canoe Polo

  This is a team sport played in canoes. It's like water polo, but with paddles and boats!

• Canoe Sailing

  Yes, you can sail a canoe! This sport combines paddling with using a sail to move across the water.

• Dragon Boat

  These are long boats paddled by a large team, often with a drummer to keep time. It's a very old and exciting team sport.

• Canoe freestyle

  This is where paddlers perform tricks and moves in a specific spot on a river, often in a wave or hole. It's like gymnastics on water!

• Canoe ocean racing

  Paddlers race special, long, narrow kayaks called surfskis on the open ocean. It's a tough endurance sport.

Exciting Championships and Competitions

The ECA organizes many championships where athletes from different countries compete. These events are a chance for the best paddlers in Europe to show their skills!

• Canoe Sprint European Championships

  This is an annual race for canoe sprinters. It started way back in 1933!

• European Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint Championships

  These annual events are for younger athletes, helping new talent shine.

• European Canoe Slalom Championships

  An annual competition for slalom paddlers, first held in 1996.

• European Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships

  Like sprint, these are for younger slalom athletes every year.

• European Wildwater Championships

  Held every two years, these championships test skills on wild rivers.

• European Junior Wildwater Championships

  Younger paddlers also get to compete in wildwater events every two years.

• Canoe Marathon European Championships

  An annual event for long-distance canoe racers, started in 1995.

• European Canoe Ocean Racing Championships

  Held every two years, these races take place on the open ocean.

• European Canoe Polo Championship

  Teams compete in this exciting canoe polo tournament every two years.

• European Canoe Freestyle Championships

  Paddlers show off their best tricks in this biennial (every two years) competition.

• European Dragon Boat Championships

  Dragon boat teams race for glory every two years.

Countries That Are Members

The ECA has 45 member countries from all over Europe. Here are the countries that are part of this big canoeing family:

See also

In Spanish: Asociación Europea de Piragüismo para niños