ICF Seeks New Hosts After Portuguese Court Ruling

(ATR) President of the International Canoe Federation Jose Perurena tells Around the Rings three cities are prepared to host the federation’s StandUp Paddle World Championships after a Portuguese court halted the event.

A court ruled that the Portuguese Surfing Federation (FSP) was "the only national federation with a remit to organize" StandUp Paddle events in the country. The ruling blocks plans by the ICF to stage StandUp Paddle championships as an event in the canoe world championships scheduled in Portugal this month.

"We are not going to cancel the World [Championships]," Perurena said to ATR. "Those hurt are the athletes, who have paid their plane ticket and hotels. We always have a contingency plan in case of catastrophes at World Cup venues."

Perurena said that the host would be decided at an executive board meeting on during the ICF championships in Portugal. The new championships are likely to be held in September or October with a new host.

Meanwhile, the ruling by the Portugese CAS was welcomed by the International Surfing Association, which is currently awaiting results of a decision by the International Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne.Both the ISA and ICF have claimed governance of the StandUp paddle discipline.

Previously, both federations attempted to resolve the situation through mediation.

"This news is important to the ISA as it, once more, reinforces our standing as the sole governing body for StandUp Paddle," Fernando Aguerre, ISA President, said in a statement. "There can be no doubting the long history that StandUp Paddle has with Surfing, as both the SURF and RACING disciplines of SUP were created by surfers.

"In addition, the ruling further underlines the importance of exclusivity within world sport – an idea that is important to the Olympic Movement – and gives the ISA momentum as we continue to move through CAS Arbitration. With this ruling, we move one step closer to a resolution and ultimately, ensuring the athletes can be best served by a single governing body."

The ISA will administer surfing during the 2020 Olympics. If surfing is selected for other Olympics, the ISA has signaled it may seek to include StandUp Paddle, thus making the governance of the discipline important.

In a statement the ICF said it was "disappointed," with the court’s ruling, but said the decision "does not have any bearing on the ongoing discussions regarding the future international governance" of the discipline.

Perurena said that the ICF chose to postpone the championships because it required public funds to provide safety to the athletes in Portugal, which was blocked by the court. He said that the federation is consulting with lawyers to appeal the decision to the European Union.

Written by Aaron Bauer and Miguel Hernandez

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