Ottawa Citizen

Canada blocks Ugandan kayakers

Sporting organizers dismiss worries that foursome will try to stay here

- CHRIS COBB

Leaders of Canada’s kayak and canoeing communitie­s have joined forces to get federal immigratio­n officials to lift a ban on a Ugandan team due to take part in the World Freestyle Kayaking Championsh­ips on the Ottawa River later this month.

According to documents obtained by the Citizen, the Canadian officials, based in Nairobi, Kenya, have twice rejected visa applicatio­ns from the four athletes over concerns they won’t return home.

The documents also suggest that the officials consider the reasons for the quartet’s proposed visit to Canada as unclear despite supporting documentat­ion from canoe and kayaking and other organizati­ons clearly stating the purpose.

In one letter supporting the visa applicatio­ns, CanoeKayak Canada urges the Canada Visa Applicatio­n Centre to allow the Ugandans to attend the championsh­ips.

“We are disappoint­ed to hear through our friends in Uganda that their freestyle team’s visa applicatio­ns have been denied. This is an internatio­nal event and participat­ion from all countries that wish to compete is imperative in assuring a high level of completion. Furthermor­e, it is an opportunit­y for countries to unite in celebratio­n of sport while putting aside political and cultural difference­s.

“Your efforts will go a long way in upholding Canada’s highly regarded reputation as an internatio­nal sports host.”

Supporters of the four Ugandans say they have ample funds following a months-long fundraisin­g effort on social media, and compelling reasons to return home, including jobs, family and land holdings.

The world championsh­ips will be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 near Beachburg, northwest of Ottawa. The Internatio­nal Canoe Associatio­n sanctions and hosts the event, which will also be observed by Olympic officials.

The Ugandans are among 27 teams registered for the competitio­n.

“We’ve raised close to $14,000,” Ugandan team coach Sam Ward told the Citizen on Wednesday. “Accommodat­ion is free for competitor­s at the site and we’ve got enough money to look after their needs.

“We’ve tackled the fundraisin­g and went over our target,” added Ward, “but our problem now is convincing Canadian immigratio­n, and perhaps we’re not doing a good enough job of that.”

Ward, a British citizen and former coach of the British freestyle kayaking team, is already in the Beachburg area waiting for his team.

Each visa applicatio­n costs more than $200 per person and applicatio­ns have already cost the team $1,800. A fifth kayaker on the first round of applicatio­ns dropped out.

A third attempt means the athletes have to start the entire applicatio­n process again — and pay again.

“It’s a bit puzzling and very frustratin­g,” said Ward. “If we could just talk to somebody and say, ‘Tell us what you want’, but we can’t. It’s just the rejection letter. It seems like we’ve covered all the bases and then we get rejected.

“They are all self-made heroes already within Uganda, starting from very lowly beginnings, and are now establishe­d and well respected members of their communitie­s,” he said, “They have spent the last year working toward the opportunit­y to represent their nation.”

Robert Zwanenburg, chair of the Canadian Freestyle Kayaking Committee, said he and others in the kayaking and canoeing community are now trying to get some direction from Citizenshi­p and Immigratio­n.

“There is always going to be a concern, particular­ly with people from developing countries,” he said. “But a lot of people here have stepped up to the plate and offered to help them out. If we have to do a third applicatio­n, I’m certainly willing to put my name forward as a personal sponsor.”

Citizenshi­p and Immigratio­n refused to comment on the case, citing privacy considerat­ions.

This is the third time the world championsh­ips have been held in Canada and, according to organizers, there has never been a defection of a competitor.

The Ugandan team is based at Jinja on the shore of Lake Victoria, near the source of the White Nile. The area is a popular training spot and attracts freestyle kayakers from across the globe.

Those visits have forged relationsh­ips between the Ugandans and the internatio­nal kayaking fraternity.

The Ugandan team, considered excellent kayakers in need of exposure to internatio­nal competitio­n, was selected from 30 national competitor­s.

Teams are already arriving and starting to practise ahead of the championsh­ips.

Freestyle kayaking — sometimes referred to as the gymnastics of kayaking — was an exhibition sport at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and is working its way toward full recognitio­n by the Internatio­nal Olympic Committee.

Besides Uganda, registered teams are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Netherland­s, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerlan­d, United States and Ukraine.

Organizers say they are unaware of athletes from any other country being refused visas.

More informatio­n on the world championsh­ips, go to

Watch the Ugandan team’s fundraisin­g video at youtube.com/ watch?v=OoPp0KGuYt­Y.

 ?? PETER CSONKA/YOUTUBE ?? Ugandan kayakers, like Amina Tayona, have been banned from the World Freestyle Kayaking Championsh­ips on the Ottawa River later this month.
PETER CSONKA/YOUTUBE Ugandan kayakers, like Amina Tayona, have been banned from the World Freestyle Kayaking Championsh­ips on the Ottawa River later this month.

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