ICF’s Bold Leap: Everything You Need to Know About the New HQ, Strategy, Vision and Name

As the 2024 ICF SUP Worlds open in 10 days in Sarasota, Florida, there’s been an influx of announcements from the International Canoe Federation (ICF), the global governing body for paddle sports. Among the significant updates is the elevation of SUP from a commission to a full committee, now on par with other disciplines, with Noemi Horvath of Hungary serving as chair of the newly established SUP Committee (interview below). The ICF has also established a new headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, reflecting its commitment to growth and modernization. These changes, along with the release of a teaser video revealing a name rebrand to Paddle Worldwide, align with the ICF’s ambitious plans for a comprehensive organizational review over the next two years, aimed at driving paddle sports into a new era as part of its Fit for Future Evolution strategy. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest buzz and updates:

Progressive Strategy: Fit for Future

Building on the successes of the Fit for Future 2022-2024 initiative, the updated strategic plan, comes “with a bold evolutionary vision” developed to secure the long-term growth and success of both paddle sports and the federation.

A new working group will be established to develop a clear strategy to modernise the ICF’s governance structure, statutes and rules.  Over the next two years, the ICF will work to implement a plan centered around five key focus areas, culminating in the relaunch of the federation under its new name, Paddle Worldwide, at the 2026 Congress. 

The ICF will move forward with continuity in leadership, as President Thomas Konietzko and Vice Presidents Cecilia Farias, Lluis Rabaneda i Caselles, and Luciano Buonfiglio were re-elected at the Congress in Antalya, securing new four-year terms for each of them.

New Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary

In a historic move, the International Canoe Federation has announced that it will set up its headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, country with a deep canoeing heritage. Following the vote, the ICF Congress in Antalya, Turkey, overwhelmingly approved the relocation of the headquarters, with 85.2% voting in favour of the move.

“It is great honour and a joy for us that the International Canoe Federation has chosen Budapest to be their new home. We are grateful for the decision-makers’ trust in us. We consider it to be a significant success in our sports diplomacy efforts”, said Ádám Schmidt, Ministry of Defence’s State Secretary for Sports on behalf of the Hungarian Government. “The canoe kayak sport is a national treasure in our country, where the results of canoe athletes have created unforgettable memories for generations of sports fans. The transfer of the International Canoe Federation’s seat to Hungary holds tremendous potential not just for canoeing but for the whole of our country’s sport. I am absolutely certain that we are going to profit from it on several levels.”

The federation will maintain an office in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the city’s sports administration centre, the Maison du Sport International.

New ICF Board

The International Canoe Federation’s newly formed Board of Directors held their first meeting in Antalya as they begin charting the course for their four-year term. Germany’s Thomas Konietzko chaired the meeting following his re-election as ICF President.

The session also welcomed new members, with Richard Fox (Australia), Marian Sarbu (Belgium), and Noemi Horvath (Hungary), ICF Chair of the SUP Committee, joining the Board after the elections.

Noemi Horvath commented:

Ms Horvath is beginning her second term leading the Stand-Up Paddling discipline, but her first as a Board Member, following the Commission’s transition into a Committee after the Congress.

Third from left: Noemi Horvath, ICF Chair of the SUP Committee | Image source: ICF

New name: ICF will become Paddle Worldwide in 2026

The International Canoe Federation will be renamed Paddle Worldwide.

“A new brand and new name will showcase the vision that we have for further popularising paddle sports across the globe,” said ICF Secretary General Richard Pettit. “Recognising the need to represent every paddle sport discipline and to embrace not only the competitive aspects of our sport but also its deep connection with nature, waterway preservation and expanding opportunities for all. We understand that rebranding the federation is a lot more than simply changing the name. We want to give ourselves the right amount of time to reshape our federation. That’s why we will undergo this comprehensive organisational review and make sure we are fit for every future generation to embrace and enjoy our sport.

As part of this journey, we will hold the 2025 Paddle Sport Summit where we will bring our leadership together with all the disciplines, all committees and all stakeholders that can impact change for the future of paddle sport. We look forward to proudly and confidently relaunching our federation under the new name Paddle Worldwide in 2026.”

To find out more about the International Canoe Federation, visit canoeicf.com

Information source: ICF