IPC announces Rio 2016 canoe medal events

“Whilst we consider the new classification system adopted for kayak as robust, we have some reservations about the validity of the classification system proposed for the Va’a boat. More research is needed and we believe that there is insufficient time for this to be completed and fully implemented ahead of the first qualifying event for next year's Paralympics."

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the six medal events that will be contested in canoe’s debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The six events were approved by the IPC Governing Board at its meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this weekend (30 January – 1 February).

Ensuring gender parity, there will be three events for men and three for women.

The events are as follows:

Men

• Kayak (Class 1)

• Kayak (Class 2)

• Kayak (Class 3)

Women

• Kayak (Class 1)

• Kayak (Class 2)

• Kayak (Class 3)

Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very excited for canoe’s debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games alongside triathlon which will also feature for the first time.

“Since its acceptance into the Paralympic programme in December 2010, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) has been working hard to finalise its new classification system, undertaking a significant research project.

“Whilst we consider the new classification system adopted for kayak as robust, we have some reservations about the validity of the classification system proposed for the Va’a boat. More research is needed and we believe that there is insufficient time for this to be completed and fully implemented ahead of the first qualifying event for next year's Paralympics.

“As a result only kayak events will be included in the sport’s debut at Rio 2016.”

Ahead of this August’s ICF World Championships in Milan, Italy, which acts as the first qualifying event for Rio 2016, all Kayak athletes will be reclassified under the new system.

At Rio 2016 all races will take place over 200m and competition will be held at Lagoa Stadium, at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Located in the heart of the city, the venue will provide a spectacular backdrop of mountains, Tijuca National Forest and Christ the Redeemer.

The sport has a total athlete quota of 60 athletes.

Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will travel to Rio to compete in 528 medal events in 22 different sports.