Beijing Olympics 2008 Slalom Event

History of Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

• The first Salome canoe racing competition was held in 1933.
• World championships in slalom canoe racing were introduced in 1949.
• Whitewater canoeing, or slalom canoeing, was first held at the Olympics in 1972.
• It was discontinued in 1988, but was resumed in 1992.
• Men compete in Canadian singles (C1) and doubles (C2) and kayak singles (K1).
• Women compete only in kayak singles (K1).
• While flat racers must paddle continuously in a straight line, whitewater racers are propelled by the current of the water.

Competition Rules for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

The canoe/kayak slalom racing will be held in accordance with the International Canoeing Federation (ICF) Slalom Racing Competition Rules. Entries will be finalized by ICF at a technical meeting to be held on August 9, 2008

Competition format for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

Each Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports event will consist of:

• Heats (2 runs)
• Semifinal (1 run)
• Final (1 run)

A Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports draws will take place for athletes who are not included in the current ICF World Ranking List.

Equipments for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

• Bent-shaft paddle
• Blade
• Canoe
• Cockpit
• Deck
• Double-bladed paddle
• Gate
• Grip
• Hull
• Kayak
• Single-bladed paddle
• Paddle
• Spray skirts
• Helmet
• Life jacket

The Course for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

• The course must be entirely navigable throughout its length.
• Conditions should be uniform for right and left-handed paddlers.
• The course should have atleast one gate-combination.
• Direction changes and obstacles should be present to increase difficulty levels.
• The course must be atleast 250 m in length.
• The maximum length for a course is 400 m.
• The course should be navigable for K1 men in not less than 90 Sec.
• The course must consist of a maximum of 25 gates and a minimum of 18 gates.
• A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 7 gates must be upstream gates.
• The distance between the last gate and the finish line must be atleast 15 meters and not more than 25 meters.
• Only the Chief Judge is authorized to alter or change the position of a gate.

Venue for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

The canoe/kayak event of the 29th Olympic Games will be held at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on the side of Chaobai River in the Shunyi District of Beijing from August 11-23, 2008.

Athlete Quota for Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports:

• 61 men
• 21 women
• Total of 82 athletes

Canoe/Kayak Salome Sports Events: