The British Canoe Union secures Olympics Legacy for Canoe Slalom
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George Tatchell
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BCU Press Release 15 April 2011
The British Canoe Union is delighted to announce that the International Canoe Federation has awarded us the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, London, home to Canoe Slalom in 2012. In a tightly fought contest, the British Canoe Union managed to prevail over a strong bid from the French Canoe Federation, bringing the Championships back to British waters for the first time in 20 years.
Delighted with the announcement, Paul Owen, British Canoe Union, CEO, commented “The British Canoe Union is extremely proud and excited to have been awarded the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships at Lee Valley White Water Centre. We are fully commitment to delivering a World Class Event on behalf of the International Canoe Federation. I would like to thank our partners for the fantastic support the British Canoe Union has received in preparation of the bid, especially that of our Government, Lee Valley Regional Park, and UK Sport who all played a substantial part in the bids success. I am convinced that the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championship will be a fantastic event, providing an excellent opportunity to showcase our sport worldwide.”
A contributing factor in the decision to award the Championship to Great Britain was to ensure the legacy of the State of the Art white water stadium post the Olympic Games, Lee Valley and Canoe Slalom are the first 2012 legacy venue to have won a World Championships.
Another great strength of the bid was the partnerships and commitment displayed between Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, UK Sport and the BCU. A thrilled Shaun Dawson Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority commented “We are delighted to host the World Championships here at Lee Valley White Water Centre. The competition allows us to see legacy in action and raise the profile of this exciting sport to a wider audience. We are looking forward to hosting the event and bringing an international audience to the Centre in 2015.”
Essential to the success of the bid was the dedicated support from UK Sport, the nation’s high performance sports agency. Through their National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme, the bid was provided with significant support and financial assistance from the UK Government, which no doubt had major impact in securing the Championship.
Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson said: “This is the first major sporting event confirmed for an Olympic venue after the Games and will be part of the legacy from London 2012. After meeting the International Canoe Federation at Sport Accord, I look forward to welcoming the canoeing world to the UK in 2015 and am sure we will stage a hugely successful event.”
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: “This fantastic news confirms the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships as the first of many world championships UK Sport is working to secure beyond 2012, using the catalyst of the London Games to position the UK as a world leading host nation.”
“The bid we presented with the British Canoe Union was comprehensive and we look forward to continuing our partnership to deliver this exciting event, which will provide a magnificent platform for the sport in this country, a fantastic legacy from 2012 for the Olympic venue in Broxbourne and a valuable opportunity for British canoeists to compete at home during qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”
Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events at London & Partners, the Mayor of London's international promotion agency said "Having pro-actively supported the bid, I am delighted that the decision makers have shared in our vision for the 2015 Canoe World Championships coming to London. Winning this event really does signify the start of a new chapter for London and enables the city, sport and partners to make the most of the opportunities presented by the Olympic Games and the new Lee Valley Park facilities."
Hosting the Canoe Slalom World Championships in London is an excellent opportunity for the British Canoe Union and the International Canoe Federation to raise the profile of Canoe Slalom amongst a wide and varied audience. The British Canoe Union is now eager to maximise the opportunities and impact of legacy at the Lee Valley White Water Centre for Canoeing.
