Michael Noyelle | ICF - Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), congratulated the International Canoe Federation (ICF) on its innovative approach to the Youth Olympic Games competition format, calling it spectacular.

During the Games, Bach visited the canoeing course located on the south side of the Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing that was host to both Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom events, each with a twist on their traditional format.

"It's spectacular because you can really follow and see who is leading. With the unstable boats it makes it very impressive."

Bach was commenting on the innovative format adopted by the ICF for the Youth Olympic Games. 

Instead of a straight-line race to the finish, canoe sprint was contested over a 420m-long, figure-of-eight shaped course. Two athletes start at the same time, but facing in opposite directions, cross in the middle - separated by a lane marker - and then continue their individual paths as they dash to the finish line.

This experimental format provided exciting head-to-head racing and offers the potential for canoe sprint to move away from its traditional partner-sport rowing to more compact venues in city centres where spectators can get closer to the action.

Bach continued, "This is great because it gives canoeing also the opportunity to go on much smaller lakes. You don't need as much space and you can watch it closely, which is good for the spectators, you see the athletes and it's a great innovation.”

Clearly captivated by the action Bach watched intensely as race-after-race unfolded in front of him.

"It's a great innovation. You should also add split times so the spectators can follow from the other bank, but these are details. It's a great innovation. Congratulations to the ICF."

Canoe slalom was also based on the same head-to-head format, but with two parallel courses marked out on the flatwater lake instead of the usual rapids. The course was 50-meters long with four pairs of buoys on each run replacing the standard gates.

Starting at the same time and in the same direction, athletes slide down a ramp and negotiate the buoys, complete an eskimo-roll at the midway point and then power their way back to the finish line renegotiating the buoys in the reverse order of their outward dash.

Talking about the development potential the new formats may offer, Bach continued, "It will give you [ICF] many more opportunities in many more regions."

The K1 200m Canoe Sprint Olympic Champion, Lisa Carrington (NZL) and multiple-Canoe Slalom Olympic Champion, Tony Estanguet (FRA), who is now an IOC Member, greeted Bach at the venue.

"We are not talking for the first time," said Bach, who is known for his close connection to athletes and places a high value on their opinions of how to develop global sport.

"Of course, they explain to me in detail where the opportunities are, and to see a boat and realise how slim it is. We spoke about the ramp that will be introduced. I'm in the best hands there.”

Estanguet said," It was a great pleasure to show first-hand how our sport is innovating to the IOC President."

"It is key that we continue to show the diversity of our sport and its flexibility. We have nine different discipline all under the ICF umbrella, two Olympic, but each with unique and individual characteristics and world-class competitions."

"Making sure each has the opportunity to develop, gain popularity and increase its global reach is key.”

The three-time Olympic Champion has shown a keen-eye for the development of the sport he has loved since his youth, and since retiring from competitive action has exchanged his paddle for politics in a bid to help advance the sports global profile.

Bach finished his visit by commenting on the Youth Olympic Games central focus, the athletes experience at the Games.

"The atmosphere is fantastic for all the athletes, you can see whenever you speak with any of the athletes he or she is excited."