Article by Marius Mărgărit – published Monday, June 16, 2025, 21:18 / Updated Monday, June 16, 2025 21:19
Explosive situation at the Romanian Kaiac-Canoe Federation, which announced, by posting on the Facebook page of the respective forum, that it cannot financially ensure the movement of junior and youth lots to next month's World Championships.
Although the competition season has started only in April, already there is almost no money from the budget allocated by this Olympic Federation. COSR only provides the amounts necessary to prepare the lots, including the senior.
But the money for the current activity, salaries or for travel to all competitions come from the National Sport Agency. Which, compared to last year, seriously cut the budget bud Kaiac-canoe.
“Poor than now I have never been!”
President of this 2005 sports entity, Ioan Bârlădeanu says that “since I was driving this federation, poorer than now I have never been! Last year I had a budget of 4.6 million lei, now only 1.8 million lei.
And a movement of the two lots, juniors and youth, in Portugal, costs us about 380,000 lei. We don't have this money now, this is the truth. I can't promise, lie to the world, it's like I would emit a check without coverage!
It is the first time in history when we cannot send athletes to such a major competition. And I did a restricted lot to a minimum, of 20 athletes, with the best, we do not go and athletes to gain experience at this level! “.
“Participation in the World Cup of Junior and Youth is compromised!”
Bârlădeanu continued, pointing to the ANS: “You have to ask those who run the Romanian sport why we have arrived here. Well, with 1.8 million lei, you receive so far, you can cover anything. The World Cup are next month, but we have to pay until June 21.
A month ago, a plane ticket up there was 610 euros, now there is over 800, and until we pay it will be made 1,000. The cost of meals, vitaminization increased by over 30%. Everything is more expensive than last year. And this year we have several competitions. Over two weeks are the “Europeans” of juniors and youth, but here, in us.
We do them on the basis of Bascov. I went with the hat in my hand to the sponsors and made money. Also next week are the European senior championships, in the Czech Republic, which we covered from the money from ANS. But in August the World Cup of Seniors from Milan come, for which I gave only a 25%advance.
And we have no money! This participation in the world of junior and youth is compromised! We will receive something from ANS, but only in the third quarter of the year. Well, what to do with them then?! That we now need, that payments are made in advance! ”.
“At the car, with rallies, at Kempo, have bigger budgets”
The leader of FR Kaiac-Canoe says that “we, as an Olympic sports federation, do not find each other. OK, at the Paris Olympics and I came only with two places 9. But last year, at the level of performances in the juniors, youth and seniors, we have achieved results that place us among the first 8-10, at least.
I mean the Olympic federations. But now we have a smaller budget than those from the car, who make rallies, or from Kempo. I have nothing with anyone, but it can't be that! I went to the Ministry of Finance, at the Ministry of Labor, Education, I asked for help, but no one has. It is also the situation that is now in the country.
I talked to Mr. Matei, who I don't even want to say what he told me. So, briefly, he informed me that so much money had and only that amount could give us! This is the situation of a sport that made history for Romania. We cannot take our children of great perspective to the most important competitions. Who can go, for parents' money, money from relatives or acquaintances, well, who does not, no! ”
“I didn't want to do a scandal so far. I made the papers, all the possible steps, I said it is solved. But now I can not, I am too tight to shut up. At World Cup, at least for experience! ”
Ioan Bârlădeanu, president of FR Kaiac- canoe
“We made a budget for 2025, with the needs of the Kaiac-Canoe Federation, we can cover all the expenses related to our activity. It would have needed 5.5-6 million lei at least from ANS. Because there are more competitions than in 2024, everything was expensive. But at this moment it can not be more.
Ion Bârlădeanu, president of FR Kaiac- canoe
