The World Cup event next year, due to run from June 6 to 8, forms part of UK Sport's Gold Event Series and will see the world's top canoeists return to Lee Valley which has two separate courses comprising of a 300 metre Olympic standard competition course with a 5.5m descent and a 160m legacy loop with a 1.6m descent.

"Bringing major events to the UK is hugely important for our athletes, for the venue's local community and of course to inspire a new generation of canoeists," said Paul Owen., chief executive of the British Canoe Union (BCU).

"The BCU is delighted that Lee Valley White Water Centre is holding the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup.

"I have no doubt it will be a hugely popular event and I am sure it will keep alive the magic we experienced during London 2012."

Since the Olympics, the centre has seen an investment of around £6 million ($10 million/€7 million) which has gone towards work on new training facilities, an elite centre, additional car parking and landscaping, and which is due to be completed early next year.

In 2015, the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships is due to be staged at the venue from September 16 to 20.

London 2012 silver medallist and current world champion David Florence will be hoping to impress at Lee Valley during next year's World Cup event ©AEphotos/Lee Valley Park





































"It is fantastic that we are returning to the home of the 2012 London Olympic Games for the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup," said ICF President Jose Perurena.

"It demonstrates that our sport is truly benefiting from the Games legacy and maximising the facility's potential to host world class competition.

"I have no doubt that the event will be a huge success and that the technically demanding course at Lee Valley White Water Centre will, once again, test the world's best paddlers.

"Being able to open the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup series at an Olympic venue is special and I am looking forward to re-living the amazing atmosphere that was created during the Games."

Next year's event is the first of five World Cup Series meetings and will followed by competitions in Slovenia, Czech Republic and Spain before the World Cup Final in Augsburg, Germany, from August 15 to 17.

Lee Valley is currently used as a base for the GB Canoeing slalom team, which includes London 2012 silver medallists David Florence and Richard Hounslow, who followed that up with World Championship gold in Prague earlier this year with Florence also taking individual gold, while European champion Fiona Pennie is also based at the Olympic venue.

Team GB also won two Olympic golds last year in the form of Ed McKeever and the duo of Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott.

European champion Fiona Pennie is one of several to British canoeists based at the Lee Valley White Water Centre ©AEphotos/Lee Valley Park


























"We're thrilled to be hosting the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup - the first major international competition since the Games - at Lee Valley White Water Centre in 2014," said Lee Valley Regional Park Authority chief executive Shaun Dawson.

"During London 2012 the centre welcomed around 55,000 spectators who were privileged to witness Team GB's amazing performance in achieving gold and silver in the canoe slalom event and I'm sure this event will also be a big draw for sports fans across the country.

"Since the Games we've seen many new paddlers taking up the sport after seeing success at elite level and this World Cup will inspire even more people to come to the centre and get involved in paddle sports and other white water activities."

Tickets for the Lee Valley World Cup will go on sale next February, but before then GB Canoeing is due to stage its 2014 Selection Trials at the centre from March 28 to 30.

For more information on tickets for this event click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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