The floods have left organisers facing the prospect of having to repair damage to the Prague-Troja course and surrounding facilities caused by rising water before the event is due to open on September 11.

"The whole slalom course is submerged under flood water," said Jiří Rohan, director of the Local Organising Committee.

"We have had to move all of the equipment from the basement of the boathouse to the second floor."

At present, the situation is not as bad as in 2002, but further rain is possible, leaving the venue at the mercy of the weather.


"There is damage to the stands, poles, ropes, gates, and to both bridges," Rohan said.

"Now, what counts is how high the water rises in the boathouse.

"The basement is already under water.

"We all hope that the water will not climb up to the first floor.

"The prognosis is very bad...

"I don't think it will reach the same levels as 2002, but unfortunately it will be very similar.

"The crucial factor is whether the rain stops."

The slalom course had just reopened after reconstruction of the bottom set of gates last November.

The next stage of rebuilding has had to be put on hold until conditions change.

Flooding has devastated large areas of the central European country and led to the closure of some Prague metro stations.

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