Canoeing development for Africa

Canoe / Kayak (Canoeing) establishment and development is the principal objectives of the ICF Development Programme since 2000 when the ICF realized the great potential of the African continent for canoeing sport.

About Canoe / Kayak Sport

The primal nature of Canoeing is - the image of the watercraft, virtually world wide, serving as a unifying symbol amongst cultures and nations back 5000 years in the history.

Where there is water, be it ocean, lake or river, there has been water craft propelled by human power with a single or double bladed where the paddler is facing the direction in which the craft is going.

There are two kinds of boats as the kayaks and canoes. In kayak -originated from the Eskimos- the paddler sit in the boat and use a double bladed paddle, while the canoe -originated from the Indians- the paddler has high kneeling position and paddle only one side of the boat with a single bladed paddle.

The so called Flatwater Racing Canoeing and Kayaking is an Olympic Sport with 12 events continuously since 1936 while the Slalom discipline has 4 events and was in the Olympic Programme sixth times in the Games in Beijing.

The first federation established in Africa was South Africa in 1956

Fact and figures

 Affiliated Countries

The International Canoe Federation has 140 affiliated member countries worldwide, of which 24 in Africa.

The progress of the affiliation in Africa:
1988 - 4 countries
2000 - 10 countries
2005 - 24   countries

 Participation in the African Championships:

The ICF has been organizing coach’s and athlete’s courses in connection with the Championships.
At least one athletes for each participating countries has received full financial support for the participation included air tickets.

The Senegal Canoe Federation hosts of the African Championships in 2005 received ICF financial support for the organization and for the supply of 40 boats

Participation in the Olympic Games

Africa has been represented at the Olympic Games since the Olympiad in Barcelona in 1992.

The ICF providing white cards for the African representatives and will secure place for women kayakers and canoeists for Beijing 2008.

In Athens three African athletes participated from RSA, Togo and Seychelles.

The Continental Qualification to the Olympic Games 2008 for Africa will be a separated competition first time in Kenya.
 

RSA athlete in the slalom course in the World Championships

Participation in the World Championships

The number of participants in both Flatwater and Slalom World Championships (for Seniors and Juniors) is increasing by ICF invitation and financially support.

5 countries participated in the ICF Flatwater World Championships in Hungary and Croatia in 2005 whiles 4 in the Slalom Racing World Championships in Australia.

The expenses of all the participants were fully supported by the ICF and the host NFs.

Courses - education

In addition to the courses and training seccions organized in connection with African Championships the ICF has been organizing various courses for canoeing development in Africa.

Coach’s courses were organized in 2005:

South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Ivory Coast

The ICF hired a Cuban coach who is working for canoeing development in Africa and staying a few months period of time in one country. The coach conducted training in Sao Tome, Ivory Coast, Angola and in Mozambique

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Tunisian coach conducted course in Sudan

Participants in the canoeing course in Sudan

Equipment donation

The ICF strategy for the development canoeing is to provide the necessary equipment for the newly involved/affiliated countries as a starting kit in addition to supply high quality boats for the best developed but needed National Federations.

18 countries received ICF equipment donation in the last 3 years.

Financial information

The ICF spent the total amount of Euros 164.000 in the last 1,5 year for African development, which is about 25% of the Budget of the ICF Development Programme 2004-06.

Details:

The assistance of the Olympic Solidarity and IOC

The Olympic Solidarity and IOC are providing great support for the ICF Development Programme generally and for Africa.

The Olympic Solidarity approved several applications for Technical Courses with their financial assistance and most likely with some scholarships for the Olympic Games 2008.The IOC financially supports the training camp projects in connection with main events.

The future

The ICF has been determinates to strongly focus on the Canoe/Kayak development in Africa continuously in the coming years by all means.
-          Efforts will be made for increasing the affiliation of new federations
-          Equipment  will be donated for the most needed countries
-          Courses, seminars and training sessions will be organized for education and develop the level of athletes and coaches
-          Open the first International Training Center in RSA this year for slalom racing
-          Provide experienced coach for various countries
-          Support the organization on Regional and Continental Games and Events
-          Logistically and financially support the participation in the World Championships and other main events,
-          Efforts the increasing number of female athletes
-          Development of canoe category besides kayaking,
-          Support the applications for Technical Courses and scholarships
-          Introducing racing kayak and canoe categories in the next African Championships in Kenya 2007.

CAC Participants in the Coach’s course in Nagle Dam RSA