2007 Slalom World Championships
Sixty percent of the canoeing slalom spots for Beijing will be known in Foz do Iguaçu
For the first time in Brazil’s history, canoeing makes its worldwide slalom qualifying in Brazilian territory
From September 19th to 23rd, Foz do Iguassu will become part of the history of the worldwide sport for the Slalom World Canoeing Championships 2007, involving more than three hundred athletes from the whole world. For the first time in Brazilian history a discipline included in the Olympic Games program will hold its worldwide qualifying in Brazilian territory. Sixty percent of the canoeing slalom spots for Beijing will be known in the Itaipu Canel, located at the Piracema Park, in the complex of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, in Foz do Iguassu, Paraná.
“With no doubt it will be the greatest and the most important Olympic sport event that has ever been held in the state of Paraná. The nature of this event conquered by Brazilian canoeing will be able to support the wishes of Brazilian Olympic Committee and the Ministry of the Sport in hosting a future Olympic Games in Brazil”, declared João Tomasini Schwertner, president of the Brazilian Canoe Confederation (CBCa).
The 2007 Slalom Word Championships will bring to Brazil the most illustrious athletes of this discipline and all future champions of the Olympic Games in Beijing. They will be in Foz do Iguassu fighting for the Olympic spots of men and women K1, men C1 and C2, with the addition of the exciting dispute of team races.
Tourism and Youth
Besides Foz do Iguassu blunting in the national scene as one of the greatest tourism centers, receiving around a million visitors every year, the accomplishment of the Slalom Word Canoeing Championships 2007 in the city also will leave a legacy of sporting tourism in the place by means of the return of the European and North-American teams which will use the structure of the Itaipu Canal as training center, since the countries of the northern hemisphere have serious restrictions for training in their strong and cold winter. Currently these countries organize their trips mainly to Australia where they find more favorable conditions for training camps. However, Foz do Iguassu may become a cheaper and technically more interesting option to the interested countries, by offering a good climate and an excellent slalom course.
“Only during the World Championship, estimations show that visitors will leave more than two million of Reals in the city with lodging, feeding and transport. If we are to consider the return of media exposition produced in other countries, this value could easily be multiplied by three. It is an event to be part of the history of Paraná and Brazil”, stood out Tomasini.
The challenge to show the Brazilians, Europeans and North-Americans the beauties of a still incipient place of visitation, but with unknown tourist potential as is the Itaipu Canal, economically transforms the idea into a more healthful and viable expectation. The frequent presence of top athletes, next to the work of base slalom development carried through in the place, will possibly transform Foz do Iguassu into the most important canoeing area in Latin America.
“All this structure is also an excellent chance of future income source for the youth of Village C (community located in the immediacy of the place), where they will be able to become professional athletes or future guides ecoturism or tourism adventure. Moreover, we will also be moving away the youth from problems as youthful delinquency, usage and traffic of drugs, crime, among many other problems that afflict many children and teenagers of our country”, argued Ricardo Gomyde, director-president of the Paraná Esporte, entity of the Government of the State of the Paraná that supports this event.
The Slalom Word Canoeing Championships 2007 will go on TV live on SPORTV and Educative TV for whole Brazilian territory. In Europe the competition will be broadcasted live by EUROSPORTS, including the most important countries of the continent. This event has the coordination of the Brazilian Canoe Confederation and International Canoe Federation, with support of the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, Ministry of the Sport, Brazilian Olympic Committee, Paraná Esporte and city of Foz do Iguassu.
Confederação Brasileira de Canoagem
Copyright CBCa 2007