International Canoe Federation

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and administers all aspects of canoe sport worldwide. 157 countries are affiliated with the ICF after seven national federations were added at the 2008 ICF Congress in Rome.

In light of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ICF suspended athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing at any International Canoe Federation events, and suspended all officials from Russia and Belarus from officiating at any event sanctioned by ICF, and from attending or taking part in any ICF meetings, committees, and forums. In March 2023, the Russian Canoe Federation sent a letter addressing the ISF and urging them to reverse the decision and allow Russian athletes to compete at ISF events. The RCF's statement included claims that the war was actually started by Ukraine and that "Russia defends peace". In May 2023, the International Canoe Federation reinstated Russian and Belarusian athletes, shortly after a Russian missile attack forced cancellation of a canoe event in Ukraine.

Disciplines

 * Flatwater
 * Canoe sprint, formerly flatwater racing (World Championships since 1938)
 * ICF Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships from 1985 to 2011
 * ICF Canoe Sprint Junior & U23 World Championships from 2013
 * ICF Masters Canoe Sprint World Championships
 * Canoe marathon, (World championships since 1988)
 * ICF Masters Canoe Marathon World Championships
 * ICF Canoe Marathon Masters World Cup
 * Dragon boat
 * Canoe polo (World Championships since 1994)
 * Paracanoe
 * Va'a


 * Ocean
 * Canoe ocean racing (World Championships since 2013)
 * Canoe sailing
 * Waveski
 * Surf ski - since 2010


 * Whitewater / Wildwater
 * Canoe slalom, formerly slalom racing (World championships since 1949)
 * Wildwater canoeing (World Championships since 1959)
 * Canoe freestyle (formerly called playboating and before rodeo) (World championships since 2007)


 * Flatwater and Ocean
 * Standup paddleboarding (SUP)
 * ICF SUP World Championships from 2019

Executive board

 * Thomas Konietzko, President
 * Cecilia Farias, 1st Vice President
 * Aijie Liu, 2nd Vice President
 * Lluis Rabaneda Caselles 3rd Vice President
 * Luciano Buonfiglio, Treasurer

Continental associations
There are five continental associations affiliated with the ICF. These associations are responsible for organizing continental championships, providing support for their member federations and communicating their interests at the ICF Board meetings.


 * Asian Canoe Confederation
 * Confederation of African Canoe
 * European Canoe Association
 * Oceania Canoe Association
 * Pan American Canoe Federation