International Canoe Federation

Autralian Canoeing is a member National Federation ('NF') of the International Canoe Federation ('ICF'). The ICF is the International Sports Federation responsible for Canoeing and other paddle sports and is recognised by the IOC.

Role of the ICF

The International Sports Federations, of which the ICF is one, are responsible for the integrity of their sport on the international level. These organizations establish the playing and eligibility rules, set the schedule of events and select the referees, judges and other officials to 'run' their respective sports at the Olympic Games as well as other international competitions. There are 35 International Olympic Sport Federations.

History

January 19th, 1924 Copenhagen/Denmark - The particulars describing the foundation of the ICF are detailed in the 50th anniversary book published by the ICF in 1974. Just as the development of the Canoe/ Kayak sport in the following years. So we will only quote some passages out worth reading book which back then was published by Hans Egon Vesper (GER). The purpose of the ICF was defined in the very first sentences.
To form a link between the Canoeing Associations of the various countries.
As far as possible, to organise international competitions in paddling and sailing, once a year, and alternately in the various countries.
To promote and foster foreign touring through production of appropriate river guides, and through the provision of programmes about the possibilities of finding accommodation and places of interest.
To introduce on maps, internationally recognised symbols for rivers, in order to facilitate touring.
To exchange Canoeing programmes by mutually making available the various national publications on Canoeing: trough the preparation of lectures and speakers, films and photographs, as well as trough correspondence.
In the first competition regulations the following classes were defined for international use:
Racing Kayaks.
Single kayaks with max. length 5.20 m and min. beam 51 CMS.
Sailing Canoes.
Max. length 5.20 m, min. beam 95 CMS, max. beam 1.10 m. Sail area max. of 10 sq. m divided between two sails of which the larger shall be carried forward. Ballast or 'sitting boards' extending beyond the bulwarks not allowed
Canadian Canoes.
The dimensions to be fixed after an exchange of ideas with the American Canoe Association.
'International races' were defined by: 'paddling races over courses of 1500 m and 10000 m' and 'sailing races over a triangular course of at least 10 km of which one side must be crossed'. With this the ICFwas founded .
The next meeting of the ICFwas to take place with the first official international races during the meeting of the German Canoe Association in July 1924, in Hamburg. During this meeting, the President of the DKV (Deutscher Kanu-Verband), Franz Reinicke, took over the office of the first President of the ICF for 1924.

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http://www.canoeicf.com