Clarks Bridge Olympic Venue will host 2016 Pan-Am Canoe/Kayak championships

GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville's Olympic Venue at Clarks Bridge will once again be the site for a major championship.<br /> <br /> USA Canoe/Kayak has been awarded the 2016 Pan American Championships for Canoe Sprint. The Lake Lanier Olympic Venue will play host to these championships, which will also serve as the Continental Olympic Qualifier for the Americas. The Lake Lanier venue has been the site of a number of major international events in the past, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.<br /> <br /> "This is great news for USA Canoe/Kayak! Having the Pan American Canoe Championships on home turf, which will serve as the Continental Qualifier for Rio 2016, is a real plus for our athletes,"said Michele Eray, USA Canoe/Kayak's High Performance Director for Canoe Sprint. "The Lake Lanier Olympic Venue did a fantastic job on their bid, and we look forward to an exciting event in 2016." <br /> <br /> The Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC) received bids from Canada (Montreal), Brazil (Curitiba), and the United States (Lanier) for the 2016 Pan Ams. According to COPAC, all three bids were of a high technical and organizational level. After a careful evaluation process, the U.S. bid was selected. The date for the event has not yet been finalized