Message from  the President of Chinese Canoe Association

August 28, 2004 is a day that changed the history of Asian and Chinese canoeing. Chinese paddlers Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun won the gold medal  of C2 500m in the Athens Olympic Games.  This is a significant milestone in a sport that originated in Europe, and is enjoying more popularity around the world with 16 gold medals, 12 for flat water and 4 for slalom, in modern Olympic Games.

We are building a world-class  canoeing team aiming for new achievements  at the 29th Olympic Games in 2008.

With the rapid economic growth  and the fast improvement of the well-being  in china, more and more people will be involved in canoeing. We welcome paddlers in the world to come to China for training and competition, while we are providing more and more water venues here.
 
About Chinese Canoe Association

Canoeing was introduced to Asia in the 1930s , and to China in in 1940s.  It became a nationwide sport since the  founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. 

Chinese Canoe Association was founded in January, 1973. It consists of secretariat and departments for technique, competition, scientific research, equipment for flat water and slalom events.  It  has 30,000 registered members.  The aim of our association is to promote  the canoe sport and to  raise the level of  skills in China.

 Chinese Canoe Association is working hard to cultivate a world-class  canoe team aiming at gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.  At present,  a prestigious coach group is  training the  Chinese national canoe team.  Among them are Mr. Capousek Josef Bohumir, the head coach of the Chinese canoe team and  the former head coach of the German national team who is highly recognized  in the international canoe community, and Mr. Marek Ploch, the Canadian canoe coach who trained the Chinese team that won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games.  We have also a scientific research group which consists of many Chinese and foreign experts such as Mr. (名字) Hartman, the famous German sports physiologist , and  scientists from Qinghai University, Beijing University, Hefley Automation Research Institute, Beijing Sports University , Queue Normal University , Hewing Normal University and Shaoxing Literary and Science Institute.  

Prospects

As the host of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese canoeing is facing an unprecedented opportunity to grow. With the  support of the Chinese government and people of all social strata we believe the  Chinese canoe team, encouraged by  the first gold medal at Athens Olympic Games, will continue to  leap forward and accomplish more  at the coming Beijing Olympic Games with their creativity and hard working.