The President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, accompanied by Mayor Marcos Zaragoza, visited the facilities of the Villajoyosa Nautical Club this Friday. The purpose was to inspect the venues for the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, the Ocean Kayak World Championship, scheduled from October 8-11.
During the visit, Pérez Llorca toured the areas where the paddlers will compete, alongside the Councilor for Sports, Peyo Lloret; councilors Carlos Soler and Jaime Santamaría; the President of the Nautical Club, Jaime Llinares; the Director General of Innovation and Educational Inclusion, Xaro Escrig; members of the entity's Board of Directors; and local paddler Andrea Jiménez.
The President of the Generalitat emphasized that the hosting of this event, along with the Sail GP in Valencia, positions the Valencian Community as a global center for nautical events. He highlighted that the region offers an exceptional setting for such major competitions, combining natural environment, sports practice, and quality of life.
Juanfran Pérez Llorca stated that these nautical competitions reinforce the Valencian Community's organizational capacity for major sporting events. Furthermore, he noted that they consolidate a model that boosts the economy and job creation through the promotion of sports.
During the facility tour, the President of the Consell and Mayor Marcos Zaragoza met with local paddler Andrea Jiménez. Jiménez, the 2025 SS1 Junior Kayak de Mar World Champion, will participate in the October competition.
Mayor Marcos Zaragoza expressed his gratitude for the support from the Generalitat and other institutions. He indicated that the Ocean Kayak World Championship will arrive at the coast in just over a month, bringing together top international paddlers, including local representatives with notable achievements.
Zaragoza stressed that the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships will place the municipality on the international sports map. He added that it will showcase the importance of sea sports in Villajoyosa's daily life and the commitment to a blue economy. The event, organized by the Nautical Club with the support of the City Council, will prominently position the town.
