Milan’s Idroscalo prepares to launch the World Canoe and Paracanoe Championships tomorrow, drawing over 1,400 athletes from 75 nations and an estimated 7,000 spectators. As the first major event in the quadrennial cycle leading to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the five-day competition (August 20-24) will award 24 sprint canoe titles and 12 paracanoe gold medals.
Top contenders include Olympic medalists from Paris and Tokyo, reigning European and world champions, with Israeli athletes participating amid controversy over Gaza conflict involvement. Italy fields its elite squad: Paris 2024 silver medalists Carlo Tacchini and Gabriele Casadei, Tokyo silver winner Manfredi Rizza in the flagship K4 boat, and the K2 500m duo Samuele Burgo and Tommaso Freschi. Paracanoe highlights feature continental champion Veronica Biglia (VL2 200) and European silver medalist Viktorjia Shablova (VL1 200).
Italy’s 24-athlete delegation, overseen by sports director Paolo Tommasini, will commence competition under newly appointed Italian Olympic Committee president Luciano Buonfiglio—a former national canoe federation head. Beyond racing, the event includes Italian Gymnastics Federation performances celebrating national heritage and break dance battles by the Italian Dance Sport Federation.
Heats begin August 20–21, followed by 200m and 500m finals on August 22. Medal ceremonies start August 23 afternoon, culminating in the 5,000m finals on Sunday. The championships emphasize inclusion through the “Tip Camp” project, funding 30 athletes from developing nations, and sustainability via the Erasmus+ Deck initiative to minimize ecological impact.