Note Sportscene - The International Canoe Federation decided to hold the Olympic program concerning women's canoeing unchanged in 2016. Below the response from CanoeKayak Canada and the community. Most probably the ICF had good reasons to maintain inequality in women's canoeing, including the Olympic complexities, and is expected to come with a clear and unequivocal explanation soon. [Update 21-11-2012 'ICF Clarifies Position on Women’s Canoe Category and Gender Equity'] [Update 23-11-2012 The ICF has taken their clarification from the website]

CanoeKayak Canada's Commodore, Peter Giles delivered the remarks below at the International Canoe Federation's Congress in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Canada continues to be a vocal leader in supporting equity in canoeing. CKC will continue to push this issue internationally despite a disappointing proposal by the International Canoe Federation to hold the Olympic program unchanged in 2016.

"Mr. President,

Canada appreciates the progress that the ICF has made in promoting gender equity in sprint and slalom, and in particular the growing presence of women's canoe on world championship programs.

However, Canada is extremely disappointed with the proposal to hold the Olympic program unchanged in 2016. This is in conflict with the ICF's Equity Charter, distributed at the 2012 Olympic Games; and indeed with the ICF slogan, "Always Moving Forward." The Equity Charter commits the ICF to increase women's events in sprint and slalom on the 2016 program, and to achieve "50/50" – full gender equity – on the Olympic program in 2020.

To achieve these goals will require some very difficult decisions. We applaud the efforts of the ICF to lobby for an additional women's C-1 event in slalom. However, it is clear that the IOC cannot solve our larger gender equity problem. There is no easy way out; delaying the decision is not an answer, and will not satisfy the demands of the IOC, the media, or the public. We strongly urge the Board, as our elected leaders, to take on these difficult challenges; and as a first step, to submit a program proposal for 2016 that includes women's canoe for slalom and sprint.

Thank you."

Peter Giles, Commodore, CanoeKayak Canada

Community's response on Social Media

Currently the most interesting aspect of the ICF Facebook page is the range of comments by observers about what went on – specifically the election defeat of Richard Fox, the workshop on gender equality and the decision to hold the Olympic program concerning women's canoeing unchanged in 2016. So far the comments appear quite negative. Below a few examples:

Kerri-Ann Redwood - "So incredibly dissapointed today with the decision to exclude women's canoe from the 2016 Olympic Program. What am I supposed to tell my 2 sons, who are now just starting to paddle, that what their mommy does is not acceptable? I'm not included? That their friends, teammates and coaches are not their equals? A sad day for our children and for the sport that I love so much."

Sean Smith - "Disgraceful decision. It's hard to imagine that gender equality can still be an issue in sport in this day and age. I propose you all resign, immediately, and let a new generation of paddlers step up and open up the sport to women as it should have been long ago."

Ian Acelvari - "How can ICF say the workshop was a success when it was decided two days later that women would continue to be excluded from the sport? That doesn't sound like progress. The fact that this is even an issue that needs to be discussed is embarrassing."

Jessica Fox - "International Canoe Federation is not changing the program for Rio 2016 ... But trying to achieve gender equity for 2024 Olympics? Maybe you should think of changing your motto - ICF are you really "moving forward"?

Gender equality in women’s canoeing: links to media