British Canoeing has been awarded the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, following an announcement by the International Canoe Federation Board of Directors Meeting in Beijing.
The World Championships, which were last held in the UK in 2015, will once again be held at Lee Valley White Water Centre, the venue that hosted the slalom competitions at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
David Joy, Chief Executive of British Canoeing, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the ICF 2023 World Championships in Lee Valley.
“There were some strong bids from both China and Poland but we presented a confident bid and vision to deliver an exceptional event, with crucial support from our key partners UK Sport and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
“With the ICF World Cup in June this year, then European Slalom Championships in 2020, our exceptionally experienced technical officials and volunteers are world class in the delivery of international and domestic events.
“This is a hugely significant competition for Canoe Slalom as it is likely to be the selection event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Lee Valley is a world class venue which is loved by athletes and supporters of the sport and we are looking forward to bringing the World Championships back to the UK – David Joy, Chief Executive of British Canoeing.
The bid has been fully supported by UK Sport and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority with 100% of the public funding already secured.
Simon Morton, Chief Operating Officer of UK Sport, said: “We’re thrilled that the UK has secured yet another prestigious World Championships. It demonstrates once again that the UK is trusted as one of the world’s leading hosts of big international events.
The Canoe Slalom venue in Lee Valley is thriving, and the award of the 2023 World Championships shows the strength of the major events legacy that we’re still experiencing from London 2012. – Simon Morton, Chief Operating Officer of UK Sport
“The timing and location of this event will be absolutely perfect for our athletes, as they look to prepare and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority which owns Lee Valley White Water Centre, said: “We are delighted Lee Valley White Water Centre has been chosen to host its second World Championships since it opened in 2011.
Today’s announcement acknowledges that this exceptional sports venue, which we have continuously invested in, is one of the best white water venues in the world. It consistently attracts top athletes as well as first time paddlers, rafters, visitors and families to an array of events and activities, firmly establishing itself as a first rate regional and national sports and leisure hub. – Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
The World Championships will be the third major international slalom event to be held at Lee Valley White Water Centre in five years, with the 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup and 2020 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships both taking place at the iconic Olympic legacy venue.
The 2019 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup presented by Jaffa takes place on 14-16 June and tickets are currently on sale at: https://www.britishcanoeingevents.org.uk
