British Canoeing has been awarded an ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup event for 2019 and in the following year the 2020 ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships.
Both events will be held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, the venue which hosted the slalom competitions at the London 2012 Olympic Games where Team GB claimed gold and silver medals in the men’s C2 slalom and the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
The team followed this success in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with Joe Clarke claiming gold in the men’s K1 and David Florence and Richard Hounslow a silver medal in the men’s C2.
It is the third international event that British Canoeing has been successful in bidding for following the recent announcement that the 2021 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships will be held at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.
"I am delighted that British Canoeing will be hosting an ICF World Cup and the ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. To have been awarded three international events clearly demonstrates the quality of our bids, as well as our willingness to work with key partners and the canoe disciplines to bring international competitions in the UK." – David Joy, chief executive of British Canoeing
Both bids have been fully supported by UK Sport and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
"We are delighted that the UK has been chosen to stage the Canoe Slalom World Cup in 2019 and European Canoe Slalom Championships in 2020.
Hosting these events back at the London 2012 Olympic venue and following the success of Team GB in Rio will be a fantastic boost to the sport here in the UK, allowing British fans to see world-class athletes in action in the build up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. This event forms part of a UK-wide series of major international events supported by UK Sport, backed by National Lottery funding, to inspire the nation" – Simon Morton, chief operating officer of UK Sport
“We are delighted to have been chosen to host these events. This is yet another example showing that Lee Valley White Water Centre is the best centre of this type, drawing top athletes from around the world, as well as visitors and families to a variety of different events and attractions.
Major events like this emphasise the important role this venue plays now and in the future in attracting top sporting events and talent, while also being a hub for both sport and fun activities for all the community daily throughout the season." – Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority