An Olympic venue
In a small town nestled between two mountain rivers, the Valira from Andorra and the Segre from France, the sport of whitewater canoeing began in 1964 with the founding of the local Cadí Canoë-Kayak club. The tradition of transporting logs down the Segre River, dating back to the 18th century, was the preamble to this sport.
Canoeing as a sport was born in England in 1866, and spread throughout central Europe and North America at the beginning of the 20th century. The strong expansion took place in the middle of the century when fiberglass canoes greatly improved performance. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, canoeing with track disciplines entered the program of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and at the 1972 Munich Olympics (Eiskanal Augsburg) canoeing slalom was first introduced to the Olympic Games. For the next twenty years there was no whitewater canoeing in the Olympic program, until in 1988 the IOC incorporated slalom in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and it has remained on the IOC program ever since.
La Seu d'Urgell was a sub-host of the Olympic Games in 1992, and the Segre Olympic Park was the competition venue. During the four years leading up to the Games, the city underwent intensive improvements.
The slalom canoeing modality was created in Switzerland, in imitation of alpine skiing, intended for learning whitewater navigation, and knowledge of technique, water and its currents.
The Segre Olympic Park hosts the Cadí Canoë-Kayak Club to develop grassroots sports, the high-level Sports Technology Centers with slalom, cross-country skiing and ski mountaineering.
The installation of the Segre Olympic Park also incorporated important innovations, which later influenced the evolution of this sport, as one of the first centers in the world. From the Headquarters, the following were introduced:
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The closed circuit concept, which facilitates training and competitions by guaranteeing the same water flow for all participants.
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The mini-hydroelectric pumping and turbine plant, which is responsible for guaranteeing constant flow.
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The conveyor belts to connect whitewater channels.
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Technology aimed at competitions and training.
Since its opening in 1991, the Segre Olympic Park has prioritized functionality over environmental respect. Sports activity is combined with the exploitation of tourist activities, the generation of hydroelectric energy and an urban park open to the public.
Between July and August 1992, the Barcelona 1992 Olympic competitions were held in La Seu d'Urgell, with the participation of 135 athletes from 25 National Olympic Committees, competing in three individual categories: K1 men, C1 men, K1 women and a C2 men's double canoe. The events were a great success, also on television, where the IOC Silver Rings were won for the sports of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
The 1992 Olympic Games brought about an urban renewal of the city and the renovation of the Hospital, which were very important, in addition to the experience of the success that can be achieved with unity, planning and correct execution.
Canoe slalom has progressed greatly, both locally and nationally, achieving second place at the 2019 World Championships among 63 participating nations, and a full national slalom qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Segre Olympic Park is a benchmark of Olympic legacy sustained over time, which provides induced economic impact to its surroundings, calculated at three times the economic activity of the facility itself. It is also necessary to add the social benefit that sports and the urban park provide.
National and international competitions find in the Parc Olímpic del Segre an organizing group that offers the optimal conditions to test the athletes. All the agents involved appreciate the hospitality and the proximity of the accommodations and restaurants of La Seu d'Urgell. So far, the Parc Olímpic del Segre with the support of the RFEP has organized more than 20 World Cups, a European Championship in 2011 and three World Championships, 1999, 2009 and 2019.
