The hosting of the U.S. Olympic trials, according to Mayor Steven L. Reed, reflects “a pivot we want to make, to make sure that sports tourism is also a big part of what’s happening here.”
Racial, economic, and social barriers may be broken down, especially among children, he argued, by holding a kayaking and canoeing championship of this kind.
According to the mayor, “they might be the first from Montgomery or perhaps one of the first from Alabama to bring home a medal” in these competitions.
The county spent almost $90 million to build Montgomery Whitewater, which opened in July. Along with parks in Oklahoma City and Charlotte,
It is the third man-made whitewater park in the United States. The fact that almost all elite tournaments are now hosted on artificial courses is part of a larger change in the sport.
Three-time slalom kayaker All three whitewater parks were created by Olympian and current mechanical engineer Scott Shipley. Shipley said, “I wanted to bring it to America.”
