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, Croatia
President	Jean Zoungrana
Official website

The European Canoe Association (ECA) is like a big team leader for all the exciting canoeing sports happening in Europe. It helps organize and promote different types of canoeing. This important group was started in Rome, Italy, on December 11, 1993.

Today, 45 different countries are part of this association. The ECA works closely with the International Canoe Federation (ICF). The ICF is the worldwide group for canoeing.

In 2022, because of a conflict, the ECA decided that athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus could not take part in their events or meetings. However, in May 2023, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again.

What Kinds of Canoeing Does ECA Cover?

The ECA supports many different types of canoeing sports. These sports involve paddling boats like canoes and kayaks in various ways. Here are some of the exciting disciplines:

• Canoe sprint: This is a race over short distances on calm water.
• Canoe slalom: Athletes navigate through gates on a challenging river course.
• Wildwater canoeing: Paddling down fast-moving rivers with rapids.
• Canoe marathon: Long-distance races that test endurance.
• Canoe Polo: A team sport played in kayaks, similar to water polo.
• Canoe Sailing: Using a sail on a canoe.
• Dragon Boat: Large boats paddled by a team, often with a drummer.
• Canoe freestyle: Performing tricks and moves on a wave or hole in a river.
• Canoe ocean racing: Racing long, narrow kayaks on the open ocean.
• Paddleboarding and Standup paddleboarding: Standing or kneeling on a board and paddling.

European Canoeing Championships

The ECA organizes many important championships for different age groups. These events bring together the best paddlers from across Europe. Here are some of the main championships:

• Canoe Sprint European Championships: This annual event started in 1933. It was stopped for a while but came back in 1997.
• European Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint Championships: An annual event for younger athletes, established in 1996.
• European Canoe Slalom Championships: Held every year since 1996.
• European Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom Championships: An annual event for junior and under-23 paddlers, started in 1995.
• European Wildwater Championships: This event happens every two years and began in 1997.
• European Junior Wildwater Championships: Also held every two years for younger athletes.
• Canoe Marathon European Championships: An annual long-distance race event, established in 1995.
• European Canoe Ocean Racing Championships: Held every two years for ocean racing.
• European Canoe Polo Championship: A biennial team event, started in 1995.
• European Canoe Freestyle Championships: This event for freestyle canoeing happens every two years.
• European Dragon Boat Championships: A biennial event for dragon boat teams.

Countries That Are Members

The ECA has 45 member countries from all over Europe. This shows how popular canoeing is across the continent.

See also

In Spanish: Asociación Europea de Piragüismo para niños