Congratulations Rio de Janeiro!

The International Olympic Committee has awarded the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

While our athletes would have loved to compete on their home soil in front of family and friends, we are confident that Rio will organize a fantastic Olympic experience.

USA Canoe/Kayak and the US National Whitewater Center were very proud to host the 2008 Brazilian Olympic Team Trials in Charlotte, NC last April. The Brazilian team made Charlotte their home training center in pursuit of their quest to Beijing '08. We look forward to continue our relationship with the Brazilian National Team for years to come.

We continue to support the efforts of World Sport Chicago and everything they do to increase visibility and popularity of Olympic and Paralympic Sport in the city of Chicago. Their efforts to emphasize the fun and benefits of Olympic Sport to the youth of Chicago is invaluable and an example to be followed by cities throughout the rest of the world.

Congratulations to Rio de Janeiro as they move forward with the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.