The initial packages will bring 60 fully equipped high quality boats, with paddles, expected to cost around €25,000 ($34,360/£20,640) apiece, to each participating country, for the purpose of training and local competitions in the Olympic Sports of canoe and kayak.

The project hopes to establish the sports within countries that would otherwise be unable to afford the equipment whilst also providing them with the skills and knowledge to produce the boats necessary to bring the sport forward in the future.

The project will equip each National Federation with a high level of scientific capacity; provide economic opportunities for self reliance; employment; and the development of other sectors such as sports tourism, boat manufacturing and technology transfer.

The financial component of the project is shared equally between the CAC, ICF, NELO and each National Federation.

For those National Federations most in need of equipment, and who cannot provide the adequate finances, the CAC pursues modalities of fundraising to assist these less developed Federations.

The Tunisian Canoe Federation is the first National Federation to meet the necessary conditions for the project.

The project is due to be launched in Tunisia on March 1.

Other National Federations to express a keen interest in the project include Sao Tome and Principe, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire and Algeria.

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