Selection Announcement for World U18 Championships

CRNZ would like to congratulate the following athletes and support staff for winning selection as part of the 2021 U18 World Championships.

CRNZ has decided to not send any athletes to the ICF U18 World Champs in September. We have spent a considerable amount of time evaluating the current risk of travel against the potential benefits. We have not taken this decision lightly, but believe that in these exceptional circumstances we cannot responsibly take any other approach.

We have chosen still to select a team as we believe it is important to recognise the athletes, coaches and families who have worked hard for this milestone. The team will be provided with alternative development opportunities, including workshops, multiple training camps, and a simulation regatta.

In making the decision not to travel, we followed our Covid-19 Travel Decision Framework and treated the U18 Worlds event in its own right. In particular, we have looked closely at:

• • NZ Government advice (currently “do not travel”)
• • The risk of catching Covid-19, and its effects on both health and future athletic performance
• • The likelihood of the team getting fully vaccinated before travel (the general population vaccine rollout will begin in July and we would not be able to guarantee access to vaccination for all team members – only the Olympic team qualifies for advance vaccination under the “Event of National Significance” scheme)
• • The responsibility for coaches and team managers of travelling with a team of athletes aged under- 18
• • The development opportunity that the event presents, and the impact of the opportunity on future performance
• • Athletes’ wellbeing and the negative effect of not competing at the events
• • Availability and cost of MIQ places on return home
• • Possibility of quick return home in case of illness or emergency (MIQ facilities are limited and the government has advised that they will not give special treatment to athletes, and if team members test positive for Covid-19 they will be unable to return home until returning a negative test)
• • CRNZ’s responsibility and duty of care for athletes, coaches and support staff who travel (CRNZ is a PCBU under NZ health and safety legislation, so is legally responsible for our people’s health and safety)
• • Current Covid-19 transmission rates at locations
• • Current Covid-19 transmission rates at air transit hubs
• • The likelihood of becoming infected in transit to-and from the U18 World Championships (in airplanes and domestic ground travel)
• • Robustness of safety plans at the events, and likelihood of compliance with those plans
• • Availability of satisfactory healthcare if team members become ill or injured (many countries’ health systems are currently overwhelmed with Covid cases and therefore less able to treat other illnesses)
• • The effect on a group if one member tests positive (likely that the whole group would have to quarantine and could not travel home, and/or crew boats would be unable to compete)
• • Availability and cost of insurance
• • Duration of stay in Europe

Note Regarding U23 World Championships and Open World Championships

CRNZ is consistently reviewing how we can best support our paddlers and their development in kayaking. As such, we will make a decision on whether to send a team to U23 World Championships and the Canoe Sprint World Championships in early June, based on our decision framework and following consultation with the athletes selected.

Any queries can be directed to Performance Development Manager aaron.osborne@canoeracing.org.nz or to the CEO tom.ashley@canoeracing.org.nz