29 mars 2017
Working weekend in Paris for the ICF Paracanoe Technical Committee
On January 28-29, members of the of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Paracanoe Technical Committee met in Paris to discuss and define strategies for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. As a reminder, paracanoeing made its first Olympic appearance at the Rio Games in 2016 during which Cindy Moreau won a bronze medal.
The following are excerpts from the meeting with Jon Edwards, President of the ICF Paracanoe Technical Committee
The ICF chose to organize its first technical committee Olympic meeting in France, can you tell us what motivated the decision?
France is a leader in paracanoeing for the ICF. The considerable support of the French Canoe-Kayak Federation, as well as the Paralympic and French Sport Committee, encouraged the ICF to choose Paris for the meeting.
How long has the Paracanoe Technical Committee existed? What are its principal missions?
The committee was formed in 2008 and encompasses paracanoeing around the world thanks to strategic planning and action. The committee’s principal objective is the promotion of an integrated approach to ICF canoe sprint competitions.
How has the integration of paracanoeing into the Paralympic Games changed the discipline?
There has been a real evolution in its practices, partly linked to the presence of paracanoeing in Rio. However the objective of the ICF is also to support non-paralympic events as well to highlight the fact that paracanoeing can be practiced by everyone, not only high level, elite athletes.
What are the short and mid-term vision and objectives of the ICF?
We have several objectives. The first is to raise the number of quotas by discipline for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, to include a new discipline – the VA’A (known also as the Polynesian Canoe) – and to get a classification system in place for it. We also need to confirm both the 2017 paracanoe competition program and the 2017-18 training program for classifiers in accordance with the ICF’s new classification codes which begin January 2018.
The next ICF paracanoe meeting will be in Rome in April. It’s important because it will address the new classification system for VA’A for ICF international classifiers and doctors.
Are you working on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games?
Yes! February 10 we started work on a request for additional quotas and on VA’A integration. We are in the process of finalizing it!
Members of the Paracanoe Technical Committee
John Edwards (CANADA) President
Diego Doga (ITALY)
Jean Christophe Gonneaud (FRANCE)
Julie Gray (GREAT BRITAIN)
Andrea King (AUSTRALIA)
Maria de Fatima Fernandes (BRASIL)
Hassan Taymourtash (IRAN)
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