The international events displaced by the war in Ukraine, the 2022 ICF SUP World Cup and Canoe Sprint Super Cup, are tentatively slated for August 25-27 along with new events Red Bull Rapids and the nation’s first Swiftwater Rescue Championship Games. The newly announced events include the 2024 ICF Freestyle World Cup, the 2024 Canoe Slalom Super Cup, the 2024 ICF Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2026 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships. RIVERSPORT is also in the running for the 2024 Pan American Canoe Slalom Championships, a continental qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games, with a decision expected in the next few weeks. “Aside from the Olympic Games, the World Championships are the most significant event in any given year for the sport,” said Knopp. It will be the first time for the event to be held in North America in more than a decade.
ECONOMIC IMPACT The cumulative economic impact of these international race events through 2026 is estimated to be in excess of $10M. “Hosting international races at this level means that some athletes and coaches will actually move to Oklahoma City to live, work and train,” explained Knopp. “We can also expect a significant number of athletes to travel to Oklahoma City weeks in advance of each race event to train on our rapids. Each world event can attract 400 to 800 athletes from more than 60 countries during pre-event training weeks and during competition. “You’ll also have officials, coaches and family members as well as media. We’ll see the impact in our hotels,
restaurants, transportation, tourism and entertainment. That’s not even taking into account the economic ripples that happen when a city is elevated like this on the world stage,” Knopp said. “The impact goes far beyond just the events themselves,” Knopp said. “We have the opportunity for Oklahoma City to become a mecca for both paddlesports and rowing which means even more events and tourism.” “Oklahoma City is playing a significant role in bringing international paddle sports attention to the U.S.,” said Rok Sribar, General Manager of High-Performance programs for the American Canoe Association. “We are also pleased to announce that Sarasota, FL, has also been awarded international competitions.” “This is an unprecedented number of events to be awarded to North America. We believe it signals a significant opportunity for the U.S. to benefit from the growth in competitive paddle sports that other countries around the globe have already experienced,” said Sribar. While the United States currently has more than 24 million canoe/kayak enthusiasts, the majority are involved in the recreational side of the sport. “Our goal is to strengthen the sport in the U.S. on the
Ukraineian liudmyla luzan at the 2021Supercup in Oklahoma City March/April 2022 ion Oklahoma 63
