2016 Pan American Championships Coming to Lake Lanier, GA

USA Canoe/Kayak has been awarded the 2016 Pan American Championships for Canoe Sprint. Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club will play host to these championships, which will also serve as the Continental Olympic Qualifier for the Americas. The Lake Lanier venue has been the site of a number of major international events in the past, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

"This is great news for USA Canoe/Kayak! Having the Pan American Canoe Championships on home turf, which will serve as the Continental Qualifier for Rio 2016, is a real plus for our athletes," says Michele Eray, USA Canoe/Kayak's High Performance Director for Canoe Sprint. "Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club did a fantastic job on their bid, and we look forward to an exciting event in 2016." 

The Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC) received bids from Canada (Montreal), Brazil (Curitiba), and the United States (Lanier) for the 2016 Pan Ams. According to COPAC, all three bids were of a high technical and organizational level. After a careful evaluation process, the U.S. bid was selected. The date for the event has not yet been finalized.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, USA Canoe/Kayak is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation. It governs the Olympic disciplines of Flatwater Sprint, Whitewater Slalom, the Paralympic discipline of Paracanoe and sanctions Freestyle, Marathon, Outrigger, Wildwater, Stand Up Paddle Board, Kayak Polo, Dragon Boat and Canoe Sailing in the United States. For more information about USA Canoe/Kayak, please visit us on the web at www.usack.org on Twitter at @usacanoekayak and Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/USACanoeKayak.