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The idea of cooperation between the European Canoe Association and the World Rafting Federation had been developing for some time. Following productive discussions in recent months, both organisations decided to sign a cooperation agreement that will enable closer collaboration in the development of wildwater sports and the organisation of competitions, including joint events, in the years to come.

 

The cooperation agreement was signed in Mezzana by Jean Zoungrana, President of the European Canoe Association, and Danilo Barmaz, President of the World Rafting Federation. The Noce River is this week simultaneously hosting both the 2025 ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships and the World Rafting Cup. The two sports will share another major event this year, as next month Solkan, Slovenia, will host the ICF Junior Wildwater Canoeing World Championships and the 2025 WRF Junior and U23 Rafting World Championships.

 

“Our purpose within the ECA is to develop all paddle sports, not only the Olympic disciplines but also the non-Olympic ones. Unfortunately, at the moment, rafting is a discipline we do not develop within the European Canoe Association. With this agreement, we will join our forces so that we can develop this sport together. It was important to sign this contract and ensure that we can, for example, organise joint events and share venues for competitions. This will help the development of the sport in Europe,” said Jean Zoungrana, President of the European Canoe Association.

 

Danilo Barmaz, President of the World Rafting Federation, also expressed his satisfaction with the agreement: “It is a very important moment for the whole river sport movement, because we are the same family. Canoeing is surely the father, but we want to be the children who grow well through collaboration — to organise events together, to help organisers attract more athletes to wildwater sport. Rafting is often seen as business-oriented, but it is also a sport that gives many people the opportunity to start and later move into kayaking. That is the dream and the goal.”