News WRF

#Morocco

Rafting is exponentially growing in Morocco

Rafting discipline in Morocco is growing, starting from Tilouguite, a small town and rural commune in Azilal Province, in a region located in the interior of the country called Béni Mellal-Khénifra. Tiloguite is crossed by Ahansal river that flows near to the Cathedral Imsfrane just before entering the village. A first formation meeting was held in February with the participation of instructors from Spain and Switzerland that certificated 12 guides.

Pre-descent with Cathédral Imsfrane in the background

From 18th to 26th April the Federation Royale Marocaine de Canoe Kayak with the support of World Rafting welcomed 35 young rafters for a second initiation stage into rafting discipline.

Following theory lessons according to the WRF Training Programme the participants, including 4 women, paddled their first descent of 9km in Ahansal river, from the Cathedral Imsfrane to the Tilougguite village.

Ahansal river

“We warmly thank the President of the WRF Mr. Danilo Barmaz as well as Suisse contact Belabbas El Alaoui for the support to this project” said Mr El Mamoun Belabbas El Alaoui, President of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Canoe Kayak.

Mr Danilo Barmaz declared “This is an amazing beginning. WRF is proud of the great job that Moroccoan Federation is doing in the river: this is the aim of World Rafting movement and seeing new rafters approaching and loving the rafting discipline makes us happy and aware that this is the right direction. Morocco has many breathtaking natural scenarios surrounding nice water courses and a lot of potential that has already started to become an amazing reality. Last but not least, I am really satisfied to see 4 women approaching the river and enjoying it, congratulations and welcome on board!”

Sport is an answer for peace

On April6 the International Sport community celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Established by the United Nations General Assembly and the International Olympic Committee, April6 recognizes the role that sport plays in society and its power to foster dialogue, understanding, social inclusion and peace.

In a world charged with geopolitical tensions, April6 provides the opportunity to highlight sport as a force for peace, and to demonstrate that sport can accelerate social transformation and foster the construction of inclusive and peaceful societies.

Every sport community plays a fundamental role towards social development by transmitting the educational values of sport to athletes of all ages and levels, and this often leads to meaningful stories of individuals and communities who use sport as an answer to social issues.

Athletes shaking hands in Ivrea - World Rafting Champs Italy 2018

Last year World Rafting first joined the initiative and 5 athletes shared their different and unique stories raising the White Card, a powerful symbol, followed by all the athletes who took part at the 2021 World Champs in France, spreading awareness all around the world. As a reference to the yellow and the red card in the sporting world, the #WhiteCard invites not to punish but to promote peace. WRF has been awarded the winner of the 2021 April6 Initiative of the year by Peace and Sport.

#WhiteCard at the World Rafting Champs - France 2021

Through the #WhiteCard 2022 digital campaign, Peace and Sport wishes to reaffirm that sport is a great tool for creating and maintaining links beyond all differences and that it contributes to a more united world.

This year, the mobilization was launched with a statement for peace following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and it staged the response of the sporting world.

Until April 12, the Champions for Peace who signed the statement, but also athletes from all over the world as well as civil society organizations and political figures, will brandish their WhiteCard, this symbol of peace.

4 rafters from 4 different countries paddling together #WRFamily

President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou,said:

“At a time when risks of division await us, I invite sports and peace actors, political leaders and representatives of the private sector, to raise their #WhiteCard as a sign of support to all peace efforts. More than ever, it is necessary to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and in post-conflict processes. »

World Rafting Federation, with the collaboration of its stakeholders, has launched a joint fundraising appeal to help our Ukrainian friends and members.

A first donation from World Rafting has been done on 3 march 2022 to Ukrainian Rafting Federation directly to the Ukrainian Rafting Federation. But it’s just the first step.

https://www.worldraftingfederation.com/news/430-support-ukrainian-rafters-donate-now

First WRF competition of the year on Struma river

Gates on Struma river inaugurated the WRF race season on 26th March: in Bulgaria 2 manches of SLALOM on Saturday morning awarded the first 100 points to Italy 1 (men category) who got the gold, with 2:15.62. Second slalom place to Italy 2, 90 points with 2:29.98. The new young team from Croatia got a bronze in their first international competition with 3:19.10: Jan Katic, Mislav Obrovac, David Zivcic, Tin Vukosic, Mihovil Cindic and Luka Rakocija, trained by Mr Antonjo Puskaric in Slunj, Croatia.

Pietro Fratton, Fabio Martini, Zeno Martini and Lorenzo Mastella

Men Italy 1 - Slalom gold

The women category saw Italy 1 leading the upstream gates that guaranteed them the slalom gold with a time of 3:02.39: Martina Bonomi, Giulia Liuzzo, Marianna Tedeschi and Miriam Waldboth, trained by the Italian coach Mr Paolo Benciolini.

Second place for Italy 2 with 4:31.08 and 90 points scored by Sara Amonini, Francesca Fontanive, Carlotta Scalvino and Valentina Volo. Bronze to Bulgaria with 4:43.22.

Martina Bonomi, Giulia Liuzzo, Marianna Tedeschi and Miriam Waldboth

Women Italy 1 - Slalom gold

RX qualifications followed with a fast lap on the slalom course section: the men’s slalom winners who had the fastest time in the first stage (00:53.50) ended the game with a silver in the RX, leaving the final gold and 120 points to their teammates named Italy 2: Emanuele Cerchi, Riccardo Colombo, Luca Liuzzo and Dario Morandi.

Winner of the final B was the ParaRafting team from Italy with Carlo Benciolini, Marco Montagna, Riccardo Novella and Nicola Speri. They won the knock-out paddling with Croatia.

Riccardo Colombo, Luca Liuzzo, Dario Morandi and Emanuele Cerchi

Men Italy 2 - RX gold

Italy 1 women won also the RX against Italy 2 in the final, leaving the third step of the podium to the local team from Bulgaria: Zoya Karadachka, Martina Naydenova, Simona Palazova and Margarita Paunovska.

MIX teams, who compete in the RX only, saw Italy 1 winning the gold, Italy 2 with the silver and Bulgaria on the third place.

Carlo Benciolini, Marco Montagna, Riccardo Novella and Nicola Speri

ParaRafting team from Italy

On Sunday 27th the DOWNRIVER on Struma river awarded the last points that confirmed some rankings and overturned others.

In the men category 3 seconds of advantage were decisive for the overall gold of Italy 1, who won the downriver stopping the chronometer on 16:53.37, ahead of Italy 2 (overall silver) who led the downriver until the last minutes where the 2 teams changed the ranking immediately before the last rapid.

At 17:51.42 Bulgaria crossed the finish line with the third best time, 5 seconds ahead of Croatia that ended up fourth in the final ranking scoring 224 points in total.

Sara Amonini, Francesca Fondtanive, Carlotta Scalvino and Valentina Volo

Women Italy 2 - Downriver gold

In the women category 80 points and the gold in the last discipline assured the overall silver to Italy 2, who finished the downriver in 17:47.64. 19:34.25 for Bulgaria on the third position (downriver and overall).

Second place in the downriver with 28:34.25 confirmed the overall gold to Italy 1.

2022 season is officially on: eyes on the next event, expecially on the upcoming World Champs at the end of July.

A warm thank you to the local organisation and the Bulgaria Rafting Federation, see you in the river!

Local team of guides working on Struma joined the event

Bulgaria: 2022 season is now open!

Welcome back to the river rafters! Training day in Bulgaria at the first Euro Cup opens the 2022 season.

After several abundant snowfall last winter on Vitosha mountains, first snow started melting and is now allowing a great water level for the competition in Kresna Gorge.
Struma river welcomed the athletes for the training this afternoon: they started with the slalom, scouting and paddling the rapids that will host the slalom and the RX tomorrow, and after the gates they paddled the 5 km section of the downriver that will be on Sunday, the last and decisive discipline.

Race days: 26th-27th March

Around 40 athletes will compete tomorrow in women, men, mix and Para-Rafting categories.

The race will official begin tomorrow at 10.00 am, local time zone: good luck rafters! The season is finally begins!

Euro Cup suspended: low rainfall in Croatia

Croatia was supposed to host the first international competition of the WRF season in the breathtaking spot of Slunj, 18th-21st March.

The race has been suspended due to low rainfall and snowfall during the winter season: Slunjčica river has no minimum water level to paddle.

There is the chance to pospone the event in the first weeks of April, depending on the weather conditions.

Hoping to see you all paddling soon, WRF confirms the Euro Cup in Bulgaria: 25th-28th March.

Successful 15th edition of Indian Champs on Siang river

15 teams arrived in Arunachal, at Pasighat in East Siang district, in the Noth-East of India, to take part in the 15th edition of National Rafting Championship of India from 4th to 6th March.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the event, in presence of Sports Minister Mama Natung, Health Minister Alo Libang, MP Tapir Gao and MLA Zingnu Namchoom. The autorities outlined that Siang river is the identity of Adi tribe, and they thanked the community for their wholehearted support in conducting the national level event.

WRF President Danilo Barmaz was there: "First and foremost I would like to thank the president of the Indian Rafting Foundation Mr Shaukat Sikand for the hospitality and the effort he is making in the developement of our sport in the country. Congratulations for bringing 4 women teams, 5 men teams and 6 mix teams: I can't wait to see these inspiring athletes at international races!"

The three Indian Army teams leaded the three disciplines of the men categories gaining all the podium:

Indian Army team B (300 points), Indian Army team A (270 points), Indian Army team C (240 points).

In the women category BSF team won with 300 points, stopping the chronometer of the downriver at 32:57.62, almost 4 minutes before the second team (36:30.89). Overall silver to Karnataka with 248 points. Bronze medal to Uttarakhand with 244 points.

Mix teams competed in the RX discipline: gold to BSF-B team, second place for Uttarakhand-B and third place for BSF-A.

#Ukraine

Support Ukrainian rafters - Donate now

World Rafting Federation, with the collaboration of its stakeholders, has launched a joint fundraising appeal to help our Ukrainian friends and members.

A first donation from World Rafting has been done on 3 march 2022 to Ukrainian Rafting Federation directly to the Ukrainian Rafting Federation. But it’s just the first step.

“I do not know about tomorrow but your support will help us to buy food and water. Sometimes it is not possible to reply at once due to absent of light and internet” said the President Bakanychev.

Your help is invaluable to our friends in Ukraine.

"We condemn war in all its forms and aim to support the Ukrainian rafting community in any way we can; our focus remains the wellbeing of our athletes”, says the Board of Directors “Sport has the power to unite the world. We must use our position to send a strong message of peace”.

The WRF Board of Directors unanimously invite to all Affiliated Members to share this initiative.

"We are in touch with both President Oleksandr Bakanychev and General Secretary Tatyana Kulbaka about how we can coordinate aid so that it can directly cover the needs of the rafting family" says the WRF President Barmaz "The situation is critical, we are working with them to guarantee their safety and help them in the best possible way. But we need the support from our amazing community".

Donate now

https://gofund.me/35e82ae7

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 2nd March 2022 the Board of Directors met to discuss the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus, deciding to suspend from competing at any event the Russian and Belarus Federations until further notice. Read more

##TAFISA

Mr Tomasini runs for TAFISA Board of Directors

From 8th to 12th June TAFISA will held the 27th World Congress in Portorož, Slovenia.

It will be organised by the Olympic Committee of Slovenia - Association of Sports Federations (NOC-ASF) with the support of Sport Union of Slovenia (ŠUS) and under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor.

WRF signed the membership of The Association For International Sport for All since last October. TAFISA has over 360 members from more than 170 countries on all continents.

For a better world through Sport for All: TAFISA’s primary focus is on

Providing global and regional networking and experience sharing opportunities for its members, Supporting member development by providing appropriate programs, events and consulting services, Supporting and lobbying internationally for sustainable Sport for All and physical activity.

WRF is proud to announce that Mr Marco Tomasini, from Solbiate Olona (VA), Italy, will run the upcoming elections for the position of TAFISA Board of Directors. He is already working for the WRF Board and is playing a fundamental rule for the development of the rafting sport in Malta, bringing the first rafters competing at the last World Rafting Championship in France.

“WRF community expresses total support to Mr Tomasini, bearing in mind the common effort in the direction of Sport for All” WRF President declared.

Read more about TAFISA: https://www.worldraftingfederation.com/news/410-for-a-better-world-through-sport-for-all-tafisa-family-welcomes-wrf

#World Rafting

WRF suspends the Russian and Belarusian National Federations

The Board of Directors discussed again today the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus, deciding to suspend from competing at any event the Russian and Belarus Federations until further notice.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Board of Directors met to discuss the sanctions for Russia and Belarus. The IOC recommends “International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions” in order “to protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants”, therefore the following measures will be taken until further notice:

based on the exceptional circumstances of the situation and considering the extremely grave violation of the Olympic Truce and other violations of the Olympic Charter by the Russian and Belarus government, the “Russian Rafting Federation (RRF)” and the “Belarus Rafting Federation” are suspended;

WRF welcomes and appreciates the many calls for peace by athletes, sports officials and members of the worldwide River Community. The WRF admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes, therefore, the Russian and Belarus teams are allowed to compete at the international events at the following conditions: registered athletes do not cover any official role/position within the respective National Federation; the Russian and Belarussian national flags will not be displayed; the Russian and Belarussian anthems will be not played; Russian or Belarusian nationals, be it as individuals or teams, will be accepted only as neutral. Being the NFs suspended, registrations will be done directly by the Clubs;

WRF confirms that it will not allocate any event to Russia or Belarus.

“We condemn war in all its forms and aim to support the Ukrainian rafting community in any way we can; our focus remains the wellbeing of our athletes”, says the Board. “Sport has the power to unite the world. We must use our position to send a strong message of peace”.