The International Canoe Federation has announced it will relocate next year’s ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships to Krakow in Poland.

The ICF had originally planned to hold the championships in Miyi County in China, however ongoing uncertainty over the Covid situation in that country made it difficult to proceed. The Chinese Canoe Federation requested last month for the 2023 event to be relocated.

Krakow last hosted an ICF junior and U23 world championships in 2019, and regularly hosts world cup events. The venue hosted a successful world cup in June. Next year’s competition will run from August 15-20.

“We are very grateful to the Polish Canoe Federation for jumping in at such short notice to host next year’s junior and U23 canoe slalom world championships, which is a very important event in the development of our young paddlers,” ICF canoe slalom committee chair, Jean Michel Prono, said.

“Krakow and the Polish Canoe Federation always host top-class events, so I am sure next year’s titles will be exceptional. Of course we are disappointed we are no longer able to have our competition in China, but we completely understand the circumstances.

“Our Krakow junior and U23 world titles will also be held after the debut of canoe slalom at the European Games in June, so it will be a big couple of months for canoe slalom.”