During the 2025 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships held in Pitesti, Romania, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the European Canoe Association (ECA) and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. The agreement was formalised by Jean Zoungrana, President of the ECA, and Krzysztof Krukowski, Senior Director Organisational Development of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Romania will see both organisations working even more closely together to bring the joy of inclusive paddle sport to athletes with intellectual disabilities across the region. During the 2025 ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships held in Pitesti 30 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DD) from six countries competed in K1 and K2 kayaks at the Bascov course. The canoeing events for athletes with intellectual disabilities were already included at the 2024 ECA Canoe Sprint, Paracanoe and SUP European Championships in Szeged, Hungary.
However, this formal agreement establishes a structured pathway forward that will see paddle sports reach more athletes with intellectual disabilities in our region than ever before. It is also a legacy of the global partnership signed between International Canoe Federation and Special Olympics International in 2022 in Berlin.
Jean Zoungrana, ECA President, said, “After hosting the very first Special Olympics event in Szeged, Hungary, as a part of the 2024 ECA Canoe Sprint, Paracanoe and SUP European Championships, the signing of this agreement with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia marks a major new milestone in the ECA’s commitment to making European canoeing a truly inclusive sport. This initiative specifically aims to promote the inclusion of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The pooling of our efforts through this agreement will significantly contribute to achieving this goal.”
Reflecting on this important moment for both SOEE and the ECA, David Evangelista, SOEE President and Managing Director, said, “This landmark partnership agreement will empower both of our organisations to increase the reach of inclusive paddle sport across the region and ensure that even more athletes with intellectual disabilities have access to this exhilarating sport.”
“We are excited to work with Paddle Europe, a leading voice in coach education programmes for inclusive paddle sport, to adapt the wealth of resources for Special Olympics training and competitions and to work together to raise the profile of both of all inclusive paddle sport programmes and events.”
7.7.2025
