Guy Dresser | Royal Canoe Club - Women’s canoe events could conceivably make it to a future Olympic programme but it would only be at the cost of an existing canoe or kayak discipline. That was the clear message from the International Olympic Committee which spelled out the hard facts to international sports federations two days ago.

The IOC, which has not yet agreed any changes to the Olympic programme as it was at London 2012, warned international federations at a meeting of its Executive Board (EB) in Lausanne, Switzerland that any changes they proposed to make for Rio would have to be neutral in their effect on costs and athlete numbers at future Olympic Games.

The IOC’s EB discussed the topic of possible modifications to disciplines, events, quotas and competition formats at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and said it would not consider any request from international federations that would result in a higher number of athletes or increased number of medals, as these would add to the cost and complexity of the Games.

The IOC said that it will study the quota-neutral requests already made by IFs for either a swap of event or modifications of competition format “at a later stage”.

The International Canoe Federation has previously said it was working towards gender “equity” by 2024, if not 2020.

That position cuts little ice with campaigners, including Britain’s former canoe slalom star Richard Fox, also the ICF’s former 2nd vice-president, who has been vocal in his demands for fair gender representation across kayak and canoe events – and sooner.

The IOC’s determination not to allow new events into the programme without something going out means a tough fight ahead for any reform moves at the ICF. Some national federations, particularly the East Europeans and Germans are thought likely to oppose any cuts to the men’s crewboat competition or to men’s canoe events as these have been disciplines where they’ve traditionally scooped Olympic medals.

The campaign for gender equity is fronted in the UK by Reading canoeist Samantha Rippington but the real weight behind pressure for allowing women to take part in canoe (as opposed to just kayak) events at the Olympic Games  emanates from Canada where WomenCAN International is leading the charge for change.

Separately, there was good news for canoeing as the IOC approved the election of four athletes, including former Olympic canoe slalom champion Tony Estanguet, to its Athletes Commission.

More about gender equality: Gender equality in women’s canoeing: links to media