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Paddle Australia (PA) today confirmed that Queensland, Australia will be submitted to the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to host the inaugural 2030 World Paddle Games – an ambitious, innovative mega-event that will unite the global paddle sport community under a single world-class banner for the very first time.
PA’s bid submission will recommend the Gold Coast (across five locations) as well as the Redlands Coast region (with the Redland Whitewater Centre, which is being developed as part of Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games), as the host cities for the event that will feature 10 World Championships – with support from the respective Local Councils and the State Government.
The World Paddle Games held in 2030 would provide a critical lead-in event to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games as part of the Green and Gold Runway. It would also serve as an early opportunity to activate Games time infrastructure, including the Redland Whitewater Centre, as well as engage broader South-East Queensland networks.
Paddle sport is one of Australia’s most accessible and loved outdoor pursuits, and the 2030 World Paddle Games will transform enthusiasm into action. PA shares the ICF’s vision that this event can be a catalyst to transform the sport into a lifestyle movement – ensuring an early return on investment for venue infrastructure, driving grassroots participation, inspiring the next generation of athletes, and strengthening the social fabric of communities across Australia and the globe.
Queensland is one of the world’s great paddle sport destinations, and the 2030 World Paddle Games will showcase this to a global audience. The event’s economic impact has been rigorously assessed working in partnership with Tourism Events Queensland, Experience Gold Coast, and Events Management Queensland.
PA is currently in active dialogue with Federal, State and Local Government to secure the funding and support that will underpin a successful bid. Should the bid succeed, corporate Australia will also have the opportunity to partner in a multi-year activation aligned with the most powerful sporting narrative in the nation.
Paddle Australia CEO Kim Crane said the organisation has taken the first step in the process in setting a bold aspiration to secure the World Paddle Games, which will not only provide a pivotal moment for the whole sport, but serve as an important moment as part of Brisbane 2032 pre-event lead in.
“The 2030 World Paddle Games is not simply a multi discipline world championships, it is a mass participation and active wellness/lifestyle festival event program providing an opportunity to transform paddle sport into a true lifestyle movement, and to showcase Queensland as a premier paddle destination, ” said Crane.
“Queensland has the venues, the expertise, the passion and the vision to deliver an event that will inspire the world and leave a lasting legacy for Australian sport. We are proud to be at the front-line of this new era for the ICF.
“Australians fell in love with our Olympic and Paralympic paddlers during the Paris 2024 Games where we achieved our best ever results, including three gold medals in Canoe Slalom courtesy of Jess and Noemie Fox, gold for four-time Paralympic champion Curtis McGrath as well as two silver and two bronze medals for our Olympic sprint kayakers and Paracanoe athletes,” she said.
The bid reflects a compelling, unified vision – one built on rigorous analysis, deep stakeholder engagement, and an unwavering belief in what Queensland and Australian paddle sport can achieve on the world stage.
For more information please contact Lauren Ryan on [email protected] or 0402 162 807.
By Paddle Australia and Paralympics Australia.
Published 27 May, 2026.
