International Canoe Federation facts for kids
 |
|
| Abbreviation | ICF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1946 |
| Type | Sports federation |
| Headquarters | Lausanne, Switzerland |
|
Region served
|
Worldwide |
|
President
|
Thomas Konietzko |
|
Main organ
|
Congress |
| Affiliations | International Olympic Committee |
| Website | canoeicf.com |
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is like the main boss for all things canoeing around the world! It's an organization that brings together all the different national canoe groups. The ICF is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It manages every part of canoe sports globally.
Currently, 157 countries are part of the ICF. Seven new national groups joined at a big meeting in Rome in 2008.
In 2022, because of the conflict in Ukraine, the ICF decided to stop athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing in its events. Officials from these countries were also stopped from working at ICF events or attending meetings. In May 2023, the ICF changed its decision. It allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete again.
Contents
Types of Canoe Sports
The ICF oversees many exciting types of canoe sports. These sports can be divided into different categories based on where they are played.
Flatwater Canoeing
Flatwater sports happen on calm, still water, like lakes or quiet rivers.
- Canoe sprint: This is a fast race over a set distance. It used to be called flatwater racing. World Championships have been held since 1938.
- ICF Canoe Sprint Junior & U23 World Championships: This event is for younger athletes, both juniors and those under 23 years old.
- ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships: This competition is for older athletes who still love to race.
- Canoe marathon: This is a long-distance race that tests endurance. World Championships started in 1988.
- Dragon boat: Teams paddle a long boat with a dragon head and tail. It's a very old and traditional sport.
- Canoe polo: This is like water polo but played in kayaks. Teams try to score goals. World Championships began in 1994.
- Paracanoe: This sport is for athletes with disabilities. It allows everyone to enjoy canoeing.
- Va'a: This is a type of outrigger canoe racing, popular in Pacific cultures.
Ocean Canoeing
Ocean sports take place on the open sea, often with waves.
- Canoe ocean racing: Athletes race long, narrow boats called surf skis on the ocean. World Championships have been held since 2013.
- Canoe sailing: This involves canoes that use sails to move across the water.
- Waveski: Riders sit on a special board that looks like a surfboard and use a paddle to ride waves.
- Surf ski: This specific type of boat has been part of ICF events since 2010.
Whitewater Canoeing
Whitewater sports are done on rivers with rapids and fast-moving water.
- Canoe slalom: Athletes navigate a course through gates on a challenging whitewater river. World Championships started in 1949.
- Wildwater canoeing: This is a race down a section of wild, fast-flowing river. World Championships began in 1959.
- Canoe freestyle: Also known as playboating or rodeo, athletes perform tricks and moves on a wave or hole in the river. World Championships have been held since 2007.
Mixed Water Sports
Some sports can be enjoyed on both flatwater and the ocean.
- Standup paddleboarding (SUP): People stand on a board and use a paddle to move.
- ICF SUP World Championships: The ICF has held World Championships for SUP since 2019.
Who Leads the ICF?
The ICF has an Executive Board that helps run everything. Here are some of the key people on the board:
- Thomas Konietzko, President
- Cecilia Farias, 1st Vice President
- Aijie Liu, 2nd Vice President
- Lluis Rabaneda Caselles, 3rd Vice President
- Luciano Buonfiglio, Treasurer
ICF Members Around the World
The ICF works with many groups to manage canoe sports globally.
Continental Groups
There are five main groups that work with the ICF, each covering a large part of the world. These groups help organize championships for their regions. They also support their member countries and share their ideas with the ICF Board.
- Asian Canoe Confederation
- Confederation of African Canoe
- European Canoe Association
- Oceania Canoe Association
- Pan American Canoe Federation
National Members
Many individual countries have their own national canoe federations. These national groups are members of the ICF.
See also
In Spanish: Federación Internacional de Piragüismo para niños
