The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have today announced they will provide a combined $3.2 million to Paddle Australia to support the hosting of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium from 1-6 October 2025.
The funding will be used by Paddle Australia for the organisation, staging, marketing and programming of the event.
Approximately 300 competitors from 50 nations will compete in the World Championships across ten events, supported by 100 coaches, officials and staff with an estimated 20,000 spectators expected to attend the Championships.
The World Championships will feature 10 medal events including Canoe and Kayak singles (C1 and K1), Canoe and Kayak Teams, and Kayak Cross, with Olympic Gold Medallists and local legends Jess and Noemie Fox scheduled to compete.
In recognition of the outstanding contribution the Fox family has made to the paddling community, the NSW Government have also announced that the island in the heart of Penrith Whitewater Stadium will now be known as Fox Island. This announcement reflects the NSW Government's commitment to celebrate the achievements of female athletes.
The announcement follows the recent completion of a $3.1 million upgrade to Penrith Whitewater Stadium to enable it to stage the World Championships which included upgrades to the whitewater course and venue infrastructure, including new course gates and obstacles, a new timing system, refurbishment of pumps, stadium pathways improvements and canoe conveyor system upgrades.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:
"The Paddle Championships is another major international competition on our green and gold runway to the Brisbane 2032 Games.
"This is a world class event that will help inspire our next generation of canoe and kayak stars while adding to our investment in two Rugby World Cups, Netball World Cup and Women's Asian Cup.
"The Fox family are incredible ambassadors not just for their sport but for sport full stop and deserve the Fox Island honour for all they have contributed to Australia."
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
"NSW is rightly proud of our Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship legacy, and we couldn't be more excited to help host the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships in the heart of Western Sydney.
"A large part of Australia's most successful Olympics performance in history came down to two girls from Penrith, Jess and Noemie Fox who honed their skills through countless hours on the rapids here at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
"To recognise the significant contribution of the Fox family to Australian sport - from Jess and Noemie to their parents Richard and Myriam, we are very proud to also be naming the island at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Fox Island."
Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:
"Penrith has a rich history of developing sporting talent that excels on the world stage, including World and Olympic Champion Jess Fox and inaugural Kayak Cross Gold Medallist Noemie Fox.
"We are proud of our world-class sporting venues which have hosted some of the biggest sporting events in the world, including the Penrith Whitewater Stadium and Sydney International Regatta Centre.
"The Fox family has made a tremendous impact to the local and paddling communities, and it is only fitting to have Penrith Whitewater Stadium become home to Fox Island.
"The 2025 Canoe Slalom World Championships will boost both the Penrith community and Western Sydney economy, and we look forward to hosting the world's best paddle sport athletes and showing them some Penrith hospitality."
Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:
"NSW is the major sporting events capital of the nation, providing sports lovers with the opportunity to witness the best male and female athletes from around the globe in their back yard.
"I am sure Sydney sports lovers will ensure the 2025 Canoe Slalom World Championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium next October are the best World Championships ever.
"There is no doubt that the Fox family are the first family of paddling in Australia. The contributions that each of them has made have lifted the sport to new heights. I look forward to joining Richard and Myriam watch the girls fly down the rapids of Fox Island in October."
CEO Paddle Australia Phil Jones said:
"Thank you to the NSW Government for their continued support of canoe slalom in Australia and this significant contribution to help us deliver the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
"The Penrith Whitewater Stadium is a proud legacy venue of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and we are pleased to once again be delivering a world class event at this facility as we aim to inspire a new generation of participants and fans.
"Sydney is renowned for delivering incredible major events and we look forward to welcoming athletes and fans from around the world to Western Sydney for another marquee event.
"We want to build on the great success our athletes, in particular Jess and Noemie Fox, delivered for Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. By hosting the World Championships in 2025 we can connect with even more fans and hopefully unearth future Olympic champions," he said.
Three-time Olympic Gold Medallist and IOC Athlete Commission, IOC Board Member Jess Fox said:
"Following Australia's most successful Olympic Games ever in Paris, we are excited to welcome the world's best slalom paddlers to Penrith Whitewater Stadium in 2025.
"We have seen at recent World Championships and Olympic Games, how much fans enjoy our sport with packed crowds creating a wonderful atmosphere. We know Penrith is primed to provide fans of our sport and Western Sydney locals with that same incredible atmosphere.
"I remember being a six-year-old in the stands for Sydney 2000 and an 11 year old in the stands when the World Championships were here in 2005, so to have that legacy 20, 25 years on, for me it means so much."
ICF President Mr. Thomas Konietzko said:
""The NSW Government's significant contribution for the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Penrith will help towards delivering a successful event.
"Penrith has played a crucial role in producing the world's best Canoe Slalom athlete Jessica Fox. After the resounding success of Paris 2024 which saw her sister Noemie win gold during the kayak cross debut at the Olympic Games, the World Championships at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium will be the perfect setting to inspire future generations, add to the legacy of Sydney 2000 and engage fans on the green and gold runway towards 2032 Olympic Games in Australia."
