The glory of the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue has faded a bit since 1996, when we received Olympic-sized accolades and publicity as athletes, tourists and media arrived from all over the world.
Then, money got tight and budgets even tighter. Newer venues offered nearer and more abundant lodging. Former events went elsewhere. The venue’s past appeared to be brighter than its future.
The Lanier Olympic Venue, however, has a new swagger and renewed hopes for a renaissance. A site manager has been hired and there are new commitments to the future.
The resurgence of the Lanier Olympic Venue was further validated on November 24, 2014, when the USA Canoe/Kayak organization announced the news that the 2016 Pan American Championships for Canoe Sprint will be held at Lake Lanier.
The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club (LCKC) will host these races. More than high level competitions, the Pan American Championship will also serve as the Continental Olympic Qualifier for the Americas.
“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.
We’ll keep you posted as new developments are announced.
Thankfully, the dominant news about the Olympic venue has to do with the future, not the past.
USA Canoe/Kayak
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.
Contact Info
- Click Here for the Lanier Canoe/Kayak Club
- Click Here for USA Canoe/Kayak
- Twitter: @usacanoekayak
- Facebook: facebook.com/USACanoeKayak
