Olympic athletes will compete in the Trofeo Ciutat de Palma of Canoeing

Triple Olympic medalist Marcus Cooper expressed today his belief that the new international canoeing event organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) “will mark a before and after” in the continental calendar of this sport.

“The Trofeo Ciutat de Palma will be a unique event in the history of canoeing; similar competitions have been organized in the United States, China, and Russia, but not in Europe. I encourage all citizens of Palma to be at Parc de la Mar on October 12 to witness this great spectacle.”

Marcus Cooper participated this morning in the official presentation of the I Trofeo Ciutat de Palma de Piragüismo at the RCNP, where he assured that the event will offer “spectacular images” and the chance to enjoy a family sports day for all who choose to approach the lake at Parc de la Mar, at the foot of the Cathedral of Palma, throughout October 12.

During the event, the participation of Cooper’s K4 teammates, who won the bronze medal at the last Paris Olympic Games, as well as other world stars, was revealed. “We can now say that, in addition to Marcus, figures such as Rodrigo Germade, Carlos Arévalo, Saúl Craviotto, and Portuguese paddler Maria Teresa Portela will compete,” confirmed Carlos Borras, canoeist and coach of the RCNP, who has taken on the role of directing and coordinating the event. “The participants, 16 men and 16 women, have a total of 29 Olympic medals,” he emphasized.

The competition format deviates from the official line of the international canoeing calendar and responds to the concerns expressed by numerous high-level athletes in this discipline. “For now, we can only say that it will be an individual race over a distance of between 300 and 800 meters, and there will be a turning buoy. The qualifiers will take place in the morning, and the semifinals and finals will be held in the afternoon. We intend to install stands so that the public can comfortably enjoy the show,” Borras added.

Manuel Fraga, director of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, recalled that the organizing entity recently hosted the Spanish Kayak Cup and that the current challenge is to create “something different and attractive, where quality and spectacle take precedence.” Palma, Fraga noted, lacks a canoeing track capable of hosting conventional competitions; however, it does have the lake at Parc de la Mar, a space he described as “unmatched.” “Monaco—Fraga compared—does not have a Formula 1 track, but it hosts the most iconic grand prix on the circuit; Palma does not have a canoeing track, but it has Parc de la Mar and, starting from October 12, a world event.”

Javier Marroig, manager of the Balearic Canoeing Federation, guaranteed the necessary support for the Ciutat de Palma to be a success and emphasized two fundamental aspects that will enhance the promotion of this sport in the Islands: the presence of well-established and nationally recognized stars and the proximity offered by Parc de la Mar, located in the heart of the Balearic capital.

The vice president of the RCNP, Alejandro López, stated, “In August, we had the Copa del Rey, just a few days ago we hosted the J/70 World Championship, we are announcing the Ciutat de Palma de Piragüismo, and we still have a European Ok Dinghy, a Swan World Championship, the new Palma Melilla race, and the Ciutat de Palma de Vela, the oldest competition in the Balearics,” and added, “I don’t remember any club in the Balearics being capable of organizing such relevant events at the sporting and social levels in a single year.”