The legendary Maxim Opalev became the prototype for the mascot of the Moscow World Junior Canoe and Kayak championships 2009

The official logotype of the World Junior Canoe and Kayak championships, which will be held on July, 28 - August, 4 2009 in Moscow in the rowing channel in Krylatskoe, has been confirmed. The president of the Russian Kayak and Canoe Federation Eugeny Arhipov told about it to the Agency sport information “All Sport”.

“At the Junior World championships we are planning to welcome about 1000 guests from more than 50 countries, - Eugeny Arhipov noticed. - Such big international competitions in Canoe and Kayak haven’t been held in this channel since the Olympic Games 1980. Therefore, we approach the organization of the tournament with maximum gravity. As I have already announced, in the nearest future the Major of Moscow Yury Luzshkov is going to sign the order “About the preparation and holding of the World Junior Canoe and Kayak championships in Moscow 2009”, and he will be the head of the Organizing Committee. We already have the first news. The official logotype of World has been confirmed, where the mascot of the tournament is also represented - the bear-canoeist. Frankly speaking, when we first tried to imagine how the mascot should look like, what personal and professional qualities it should have, at once we thought about our famous canoeist, Olympic champion Maxim Opalev. Maxim by right has a great popularity among the young athletes; he is a real example for the growing generation. That’s why, the designers, working at the logotype, used also the image of Opalev. Don’t be surprised, that our bear-canoeist “wears” red bandana”.