Paddle Australia will receive $3.2 million to support hosting the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships in 2025.
The combined commitment by the federal and NSW governments comes off the success of Australian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The funding will be used for the event’s organisation, staging, marketing and programming.
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“Thank you to the NSW Government for their continued support of canoe slalom in Australia and this significant contribution to help us deliver the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium,” chief executive of Paddle Australia, Phil Jones, said.
Around 300 competitors from 50 countries will compete at the World Champions, which will be hosted from October 1 to 6 at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
Ten medal events will be held, including Canoe and Kayak singles, Canoe and Kayak teams, and Kayak Cross.
Olympic gold medallists Jess and Noemie Fox are scheduled to compete.
The NSW government also announced that the island in the heart of Penrith Whitewater Stadium has been renamed ‘Fox Island’ to recognise the Fox family’s contribution to the paddling community.
Jess Fox said she was excited to welcome the world’s best paddlers to Penrith.
“We have seen at recent World Championships and Olympic Games, how much fans enjoy our sport with packed crowds creating a wonderful atmosphere,” she said.
“We know Penrith is primed to provide fans of our sport and Western Sydney locals with that same incredible atmosphere
“I remember being a six-year-old in the stands for Sydney 2000 and an 11 year old in the stands when the World Championships were here in 2005, so to have that legacy 20, 25 years on, for me it means so much.”