ICF addresses event cancellations and postponements due to COVID-19

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) continues to implement its contingency plans to manage the impact of the coronavirus on the Tokyo 2020 sprint, slalom, and paracanoe qualifying events, which have faced cancellations and postponements. During a teleconference, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reaffirmed its dedication to holding this year's Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 24. The IOC also expressed support for sports like canoeing, which still need to finalize their Olympic quotas. The situation remains highly dynamic, with numerous key events already either cancelled or postponed. The ICF, in collaboration with host organizers, has now cancelled all continental qualifiers for both sprint and slalom disciplines. The canoe sprint and paracanoe world Olympic qualifiers, originally scheduled for May 21-24 in Duisburg, Germany, will not take place as planned. However, organizers and the ICF are exploring the possibility of rescheduling this event for late June. A final decision is expected by the end of April, with the ICF's primary consideration being the ability of all athletes to participate fairly. Current international travel restrictions are preventing many athletes from crossing borders to compete. For canoe slalom, the ICF plans to use world rankings to allocate quota places. Discussions are currently underway with the IOC regarding the use of international results to determine which countries will receive the remaining Tokyo 2020 sprint quotas. This decision is anticipated by early April. Should the Duisburg event be unable to proceed, the results from the 2019 ICF paracanoe world championships will be utilized to determine the final Paralympic quota allocations, subject to approval from the International Paralympic Committee. The IOC has expressed full confidence that the Olympic Games will proceed on schedule. In response, the ICF is diligently working to ensure all available quota positions are filled in the most equitable and...

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