Oklahoma officially received the International Canoe Federation flag following the Sydney World Championships. Mike Knopp, president of the Oklahoma City 2026 Organizing Committee, was present in Australia to gain knowledge and take stock of the situation for the next edition. It was an extraordinary experience, he says. It's a beautiful site, and seeing it in operation 25 years after the Olympic Games has been great. It gives me a lot of confidence and enthusiasm for what we are about to undertake in Oklahoma City. This only underscores the long-term legacy of the site and what the Olympic Movement can bring to your city and community. »
The Whitewater Center in Oklahoma City will host the Canoe Slalom World Championships from July 20 to 25, 2026. It will then be used during Los Angeles 2028 for the Olympic Games events. We will be making some very interesting improvements during the winter., continues Mike Knopp about the site. This is the first phase, then We will make further improvements before the Olympic Games. (…) These improvements will enrich the experience of visitors and athletes. »
The president of the organizing committee emphasized the character of " unique " from the Whitewater Center because of its location. " You are right in the city center, this will add a lot of energy to the event, he rejoices. People are really excited about the international nature of the competition and are looking forward to welcoming so many people from all over the world. We want to make the World Championships as big an event as possible, as first step towards the Olympic GamesIn the United States, we have more recreational paddlers than anywhere else. We are making a huge effort to try to connect recreational paddlers with supporters of our Olympic athletes. We believe the World Championships will be a step in the right direction. »
