The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has announced the candidates standing for election at this year’s Congress in Antalya, Turkey. The elections will be held on 8 November and a commemorative dinner to celebrate 100 years of the ICF will be held on 9 November.
Germany’s Thomas Konietzko, who will lead the ICF from 2021, is the only candidate for the presidency, while Spain’s Lluis Rabaneda and Argentina’s Cecilia Farias are seeking to become vice presidents. Luciano Buonfiglio also aspires to be elected vice-president. Martin Stanovsky JR from Slovakia is also a candidate for the vice-presidency.
China’s Li Xin, Turkey’s Alper Cavit Kabakci, Hungary’s Peter Karai and Lebanon’s Mazen Ramadan have been nominated for the position of ICF treasurer. Offshore canoe racing and stand up paddling are the only two ICF technical committees where there are challenges for the presidency.
South Africa’s Colin Simpkins and Belgium’s Marian Sarbu will compete for the position of chair of the ICF Ocean Racing Committee. Hungary’s Noemi Horvath and Moldova’s Martin Marinov are vying for the position of ICF SUP Committee Chair.
For the first time, the SUP President-elect will subsequently have a seat on the Board, as the Commission will become a Committee after the Congress due to the successful development of the sport and the increase in the number of National Federations participating in its World Championships.
Manuela Gawehn of Germany for whitewater canoeing, John Edwards of Canada for Paracanoe, Toshi Furuya of Japan for sprint canoeing, Greg Smale of Great Britain for polo canoeing, Terry Best of Great Britain for freestyle canoeing and Ruud Heijselaar of the Netherlands for marathon canoeing.
Richard Fox has been nominated by Paddle Australia to chair the ICF Slalom Canoeing Committee. The multiple world slalom gold medallist and father of Australian Olympic champions Jessica Fox and Noemie Fox, is seeking to succeed Frenchman Jean-Michel Prono, who will not stand for re-election after chairing the ICF Slalom Canoeing Committee since 2004 and playing a crucial role in raising the standard of the organisation.
The Frenchman also oversaw the creation and development of Kayak Cross, which successfully debuted at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Hong Kong’s Luk Wai-Hung is the only candidate for the position of ICF Dragon Boat Commission chair. Great Britain’s Jane Gibson is seeking election as chair of the ICF Medical and Anti-Doping Committee, a position she has taken on an interim basis.
All those elected to the above positions will serve four-year terms, from 2024 to 2028. The committee members will be appointed by the new ICF Board at its first meeting, scheduled for 9 November.
