It's highly unlikely that C2 will get the support at all levels whilst it's classified as a non-Olympic event. British Canoeing don't receive funding for any non-Olympic classes, it's therefore not in their interest to support it, as they have to maximise their medal winning opportunities to retain their funding, and ultimately their jobs. Sad but true.
None of the British Canoeing coaches will push the young kids trying to get on to the training programmes down the C2 route.
I agree we should still enter teams in C2 international races, but there will be little, if any support from British Canoeing - they've made that clear. I remember when we started sending C1W to the World Cup races, they had to get funding from their home nations not British Canoeing.
I think the only hope is that there is a serious push from people who can actually influence the sport, like Tony Estanguet to get C2 back in the Olympic Games. If it looks like it will succeed then (and only then) will British Canoeing start to invest in C2 again. The same thing happened with C1W, with the likes of Richard Fox started pushing it, originally there was little or no investment in C1W from British Canoeing, but then when it looked liked C1W would become an Olympic sport they started to invest, and the senior team are now reaping the rewards of that early investment, along with Australia.
For me there are two separate questions:
1. How do we keep C2 going in the domestic season
2. How do we get C2 back in the Olympics
I think this forum can only address the first point, and hopefully in doing so, should point two get any momentum then we would be in a good position to take advantage.
As to the point made:
Olympics aren't that important to canoeists compared to the World Champs and World Cup events that happen more frequently.
I have to disagree, the reality is without the Olympics there is no money, there are no funded programmes, and there are no full time athletes. Having said that, whilst there might be more kudos for winning the Olympics, I don't think It's the pinnacle of our sport, to win the World Championship is a far harder achievement, as you races against the best 3 boats of every nation, not just 1 boat. You only have to look at the Czech K1M, they have 4 outstanding paddlers, but only one can go to the Olympics. The French are the same, and they now race for other nations so they can get on a team for international events.
Would canoeing be a better sport if it wasn't in the Olympics, now that's an interesting question.