Paddle Australia has today made the decision to relocate the 2022 Canoe Sprint Championships from the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) in Penrith to West Lakes, in Adelaide, SA. The dates of the event will remain the same, with competition held from Wednesday, 18 May to Sunday, 22 May.
Paddle Australia took the decision to relocate the event from the SIRC in response to the devastating effects of the multiple flooding events that affected the Greater Sydney area in recent weeks, which resulted in significant damage to the SIRC venue and infrastructure.
“We are very disappointed that the event cannot proceed as planned,” said Paddle Australia CEO, Phil Jones. “Of course the decision was not taken lightly, but we carefully evaluated the impact of the recent floods on the venue infrastructure, facilities and equipment, and also the resulting ongoing issues with water quality and contamination.”
Jones said that 2022 is shaping up to be another challenging year for the Australian paddling community, but PA is fully committed to delivering quality events despite the ongoing disruptions.
“We remain committed to ensure the highest quality standards and fair racing conditions for our athletes, while at the same time ensuring the safety, health and well-being of all participants, organisers, volunteers and spectators is paramount for our delivery,” he said.
Jones added that West Lakes has already demonstrated to be a top-class venue with all the necessary infrastructure to hold major national events such as the 2021 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint Championships.
“At the same time, I would like to thank the Penrith City Council and the Sydney International Regatta Centre for their ongoing support through the enormous challenges of the last two years, and the paddling community for their patience and resilience in the face of adversity.
“We are very much looking forward to bringing back this event to Penrith in the near future,” Jones said.
Paddle Australia has also officially confirmed the dates for the 2023 Canoe Sprint Championships, to be held at Champion Lakes in Perth, WA from Tuesday 21 March to Saturday 25 March 2023.
