OTTAWA, ON (April 6, 2016) – CBC Sports will bring canoe and kayak competition to television and online streaming platforms this season as the Canadian Team competes on the world stage in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
·         ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 1 from Duisburg, Germany (May 20-22)
·         ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 2 from Racice, Czech Republic (May 27-29)
·         ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 3 from Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal (June 3-5)
 
Fans will be able to watch these events as part of CBC Sports’ weekly Road To The Olympic Games TV broadcasts, and online at cbcsports.ca or via the CBC Sports app.
 
"As Canada's Olympic Network we are proud to have secured exclusive multiplatform broadcast rights through Canoe Kayak Canada for these upcoming ICF World Cup events," said Greg Stremlaw, executive director, CBC Sports, and general manager and chef de mission for CBC/Radio-Canada's coverage of Rio 2016. "Many of the athletes competing in the World Cup will go on to represent their countries at Rio 2016 and our broadcasts will give Canadians more opportunities to cheer them on prior in the months leading up to the Olympic Games.”
 
The new partnership also provides a framework for CBC and Canoe Kayak Canada to work together to share content, including highlights of canoe slalom World Cups, qualifier events and athlete stories, through a myriad of broadcast and digital platforms.
 
“This partnership is pivotal in bringing the stories of our team to life to inspire an even wider audience,” said Casey Wade, CEO of Canoe Kayak Canada. “Both paddling and the CBC hold a special place in the hearts of Canadians. It is so fitting we are working with CBC Sports to amplify the profile of a sport that is so deeply steeped in Canadian heritage.”
 
Beyond Canadian borders, this partnership is also good news for the International Canoe Federation which has been focused on growing the broadcast reach of the sport.
 
“Television and media exposure are key ingredients for growing the sport internationally,” said Simon Toulson, Secretary General of the ICF. “This partnership is another important step in expanding the global reach of paddling. The Canadian market is a key territory for the ICF considering the Canadian stars that we have in the paddling world, so exposure of our major events in the Canadian market is very important to us.”
 
CBC Sports’ broadcast schedules will be available online at http://www.cbc.ca/sports/broadcast.