After eleven years, the High Performance Center is once again the stage of the Junior and U23 European Championships, after the Portuguese Canoe Federation agreed to a request from the Slovak Canoe Federation to change the organisation of the European Championships from 2024 to 2023, as the construction of the course at the intended site in Slovakia would not be completed this year.
At the same time, the Montemor-o-Velho will host this year's Paracanoe European Championships.
"The participation numbers of countries are within what would be expected, due to the fact this European Championships is being held after the World Championships (it took place in Auronzo, Italy, from 6th to 9th July). We are very pleased, but we cannot help but show some fears due to the costs of transport and accommodation being very high, as the date is very close to the World Youth Day," points out Vítor Félix, president of the Portuguese Canoe Federation. He added, "With regards to the results, we have a brilliant generation of junior and Under 23, well demonstrated by the medals won in 2022."
Finish tower in progress
Vítor Félix highlighted, then, names like Beatriz Fernandes (the canoeist chosen to 'give the face' for the European Championships), Gustavo Gonçalves, Pedro Casinha and João Duarte.
"Nowadays, they are already part of our routine. They already compete in our main team and guarantee that the canoe sprint is on the right path for a peaceful future," said Vítor Félix.
“I cannot miss to highlight the importance of building the CAR (High Performance Center) finish tower in Montemor-o-Velho, which, in addition to allow savings in financial resources with the assembly of tents and containers, as it was in the past organisations, will guarantee better conditions of work for the organisation and the ITOs," summarized the president of the Portuguese Canoe Federation, an institution used of dealing with the pressure of organising major international competitions.
"As an organising country, we always have two objectives: on one hand, that it be an excellent organisation and, on the other hand, that the sports results surpass past editions," said Vítor Félix, taking the opportunity to emphasize that, "as an organization, in view of the accumulated experience, we hope make it a huge success."
"The first international canoe sprint event in Portugal was precisely the ECA Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint European Championships in 2012. After that, we have already organized all possible events: World Cups, European and World Championships of the most varied levels," concluded the President of the Portuguese Canoe Federation.
19.7.2023
