25 years after it hosted canoe slalom at the Sydney Olympics, Penrith Whitewater Stadium will once again welcome the world’s best paddlers and host the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
Last weekend the International Canoe Federation (ICF) announced Penrith as the host city of the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships following a successful bid presented by Paddle Australia with the support of the Australian Government, NSW Government and Penrith City Council.
ICF President Jose Perurena said returning to an Olympic venue was important.
“Returning to Sydney underlines how our Olympic venues can provide a wonderful legacy for a host city,” he said.
“Nearly all of our canoe slalom Olympic venues continue to host international events. Next year we will celebrate 50 years since slalom made its Olympic debut in Munich, by returning to Augsburg for the World Championships.
“Penrith will also be an important host, ahead of the possibility of Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympic Games.”
The event will run from October 1-6, 2025, the year the city will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
In the lead up to the World Championships, Penrith will also host ICF Oceania Championships and Australian Open events, which will help the athletes and organisers prepare for the world champions competition.
This will be the third time an ICF Canoe Slalom World Championship has been awarded to Australia. Penrith previously hosted the Canoe Slalom Senior World Championships in 2005 and the Junior and Under 23 World Championships in 2014.
“Hosting the event in Penrith is all about the rejuvenation of an Olympic legacy while bringing together the paddling community and sharing our sport with the general public,” said Paddle Australia CEO Phil Jones.
“This event will inspire a new generation of competitors, much as the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games canoe and kayak competition inspired some of the biggest names in our sport today.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.