“Paracanoe: Building a Sport & Staying Focused”

Paracanoe has grown exceptionally well from the first World Conference for Paddlers with a Disability in Montreal in 2008 to its first Paralympic Games in Rio 2016. Now with nine events at Tokyo 2020, it is a large part of the Games. Some National Canoe Federations explored competitions for disabled persons as early as the 1980s, but little happened until 2008. Since then, the sport has seen continuous growth & development. What were the catalyst forces which solidified the ICF’s embrace of the programme over a short period of time? What are the strategic principles which enable the expansion of the Paracanoe programme? With the International Paralympic Committee being the leader of the Paralympic movement, what are the challenges and opportunities that exist in partnerships between International Federations and the IPC?

Tune into our TALK with John Edwards, the Chair of Paracanoe Committee at the International Canoe Federation, who will answer these questions and guide us through the growth of Paracanoeing. Emma Wiggs, MBE (GBR) a successful 2016 Paralympic gold medallist and 8x gold medallist at the World Championships in Paracanoeing, will offer her reflections and insights on her involvement with the sport.