Extreme slalom, due to make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, has been re-named kayak cross by the ICF ©Getty Images

The new Olympic canoeing event of extreme slalom, which will make its debut at the Paris 2024 Games, will now be known as kayak cross, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) has ruled at its Congress in Pattaya, Thailand.

In explaining the change, ICF canoe slalom committee chair Jean Michel Prono said kayak cross removed any confusion with pre-existing canoeing whitewater formats, and also brought the sport into line with other Olympic events with cross in their title.

The discipline has been added to the canoeing programme at the Games in place of the men's and women's K1 200 metres events.

Kayak cross has been added to the canoeing programme at Paris 2024 in place of the men's and women's K1 200 metres events ©ICF
Kayak cross has been added to the canoeing programme at Paris 2024 in place of the men's and women's K1 200 metres events ©ICF

The 39th ICF Congress, which concluded today, was attended by more than 100 National Federations either in person or online.

Among the highlights of this year’s gathering was the ratification of an athlete declaration, the unanimous support for the ICF's Fit For Future roadmap, and the move of the sport's drug testing process to the International Testing Agency.

ICF President Thomas Konietzko, presiding over his first Congress since his election one year ago, said he was proud of the support shown by the National Federations.

"The most important message from this Congress is we are staying united and we are able to face all challenges ahead of us," he said.

"That will be noticed in the world of sport."

A bid from Antalya, Turkey, to host the next Congress in 2024 was supported unanimously.