Countdown to the start date of the race

Welcome

Dear friends of sport, dear athletes, coaches and guests,

It is a great honour and sincere pleasure to welcome you to Olympic Hopes in Bratislava.

This event has a special place in the hearts of young paddlers across Europe. For many of them, Olympic Hopes is not only an important competition, but also the first true step on the long road toward international success. I know this journey well — as a former athlete, as an Olympic medallist, and as someone who has spent a lifetime in our sport.

Bratislava and the Zemník area have been developing year by year into a modern National Canoeing and Rowing Centre. What once started as a vision has gradually become reality. The construction of the Olympic-standard course was a crucial milestone, and since then we have continuously improved the conditions for athletes and coaches — not only for daily training, but also for hosting top-level international events. The Junior European Championships in 2024 were an important confirmation that Bratislava belongs on the international canoeing map.

Our city offers a unique combination of accessibility and natural surroundings. Located at the crossroads of Central Europe, close to Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Bratislava is easily reachable by road and air, while the Zemník venue remains peacefully surrounded by nature, only minutes from the city centre. This makes it an exceptional place for sport — and for meeting friends from across Europe.

Olympic Hopes has always stood for more than results. It represents motivation, fair play, friendship and the shared belief in the future of our sport. Even in times when the world presents challenges and uncertainty, sport continues to unite us, inspire young people and remind us of the values we share.

On behalf of the Slovak Canoeing, I would like to thank all teams, coaches, officials, volunteers and partnerswho make this event possible. We are proud to host you and will do everything we can to ensure a memorable and successful competition. I wish all athletes strong races, fair conditions and unforgettable experiences here in Bratislava. Most of all, I wish you good health and a successful start to the season. I look forward to seeing you on the water.

Best regards,

Erik Vlček

Erik Vlček

Chairman of Slovak Canoeing Sprint Team

Ing. Boris Bergendi

Ing. Boris Bergendi

Chairman of organizing committee

News

Olympic hopes 2026

      Dear Friends, Olympic Hopes 2026 in Bratislava, will take place
from 17nd to 20th September 2026.

      For more information please see Bulletin, or contact Zora Hujsová
at +421 907 987 928, or hujsova@canoe.sk.

Preliminary program

      Dear Friends, Preliminary program is now available.

Registration

      Dear Friends, Registration is now open. After submitting your registration form, you will receive an e-mail with username and password for our on-line system. You can use your account to book services immediately. The nominal entry module will be available at later date.

Rooming list

      Dear Friends, the Rooming list template is now available. Please do not forget to submit your completed rooming list no later than 20th August 2026.

5000m course plan

      Dear Friends, the 5000m course plan is now available. The race will consist of three laps with no portage.

Countries

# Country
1.     Slovakia
2.     Slovenia
3.     Denmark
4.     South Africa
5.     Germany
6.     Israel
7.     Sweden
8.     Belgium
9.     Italy
10.     Argentina
11.     Japan
12.     Singapore
13.     Hungary
14.     Great Britain
15.     Czechia
16.     Cyprus
17.     Canada
18.     Switzerland
19.     Azerbaijan
20.     Türkiye
21.     Georgia
22.     Austria
23.     France
24.     United States of America
25.     Croatia
26.     Poland
27.     Estonia
28.     Moldova
29.     Latvia
30.     Lithuania
31.     Ireland
32.     Saudi Arabia
33.     Greece
34.     Spain
35.     Portugal
36.     Serbia
37.     Brazil
38.     Romania
39.     Ukraine
40.     Kosovo