Szeged ready to show why it’s the home of Sprint Canoe

ICF MEDIA – For a city that considers itself to be the international home of sprint canoeing, the past two years have felt like an eternity.

Of course the criteria can be moulded to suit any argument, but on sheer weight of numbers Szeged in Hungary has every right to call itself the spiritual home of the sport.

After a two-year break, Szeged is back on the international calendar, hosting the second World Cup next month. Balint Vekassy, the instantly recognisable ICF photographer and one of the Szeged event organisers, said there is a nervous anticipation.

“The previous time Szeged had a “pause” this long in hosting international canoeing events was before 2005,” Vekassy said. 

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“We are anxious to see if this will lead to canoeing fans of Szeged being super-hungry for some action, or have their fond memories of paddle battles at the Maty-er Regatta Course already started fading and they slowly turn away from us? 

“Of course I’m a strong believer it’s the former.”

He has good reason to be optimistic. Sprint canoe is very much part of the sporting fabric of Hungary, and winning three gold medals in Rio last year has added to the legend.

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