Summer Olympics - Canoe/Kayak - SCAR2016 Traditional Cache

The world will turn its eyes to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from August 5 to 21, 2016 as they host the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.  More than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries – including Kosovo and South Sudan for the first time – are expected to compete for 306 sets of medals in 28 sports.

Canoeing and kayaking have been featured at the Summer Olympics since 1936 in Berlin although they were included as demonstration sports at the 1924 Games in Paris. Two styles of boats are used in this sport: canoes with 1 or 2 paddlers and kayaks with 1, 2, or 4 paddlers. This leads to the designation of each event: C-1 is a singles canoe event while K-2 is a kayak doubles event. Sprint and slalom events are held in both disciplines.

Hungary and Germany have been powerhouses over the years and Canada has been quite successful in the sport having garnered 24 medals, including 4 gold.