A significant milestone for Rafters as the Global Rafting Federations move towards uniting rafting community. Mr. Danilo Barmaz, President of the World Rafting Federation (WRF), and Mr. Joseph Willis Jones, President of the International Rafting Federation (IRF), signed an agreement for unification to create the United Rafting.

This unification will:

  • Facilitate the growth of rafting as a sport, to benefit all stakeholders involved. This includes promoting and supporting cohesive activities among all National Federations, which will operate as one family within their countries, as well as all other stakeholders in the rafting clubs.
  • Offer support to athletes at all levels and abilities, practitioners, technical officials, river guides, and other rafting enthusiasts.
  • Assist in the growth of rafting and related activities by organizing high-level competitions and events to promote the sport globally, while simultaneously ensuring the protection and development of sustainable river practices.

This important alliance signifies the start of a joint effort to consolidate the sport within a single international body.

The United Rafting aims to raise the profile of rafting as a sport acknowledged by prominent international sports organizations and to increase athlete participation in various competitions.

The initial specific objectives of merging into a single organization include the establishment of unified competition rules and schedules, as well as presenting our federations as a cohesive international entity in recognition matters before global sports organizations.

Both Presidents strongly believe that if the rafting community can genuinely unite around shared goals while putting aside their differences, substantial advancements can be achieved quickly for the benefit of the sport and its athletes. 

This initiative seeks to not only elevate rafting on a global level but also highlights the significance of safeguarding and sustainably promoting the sport for rivers everywhere. 

Both Federations are optimistic that this cooperative endeavor will foster the growth and success of rafting, propelling it to new heights in the international sports scene and Rafting becoming an Olympic Sport under International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Kenya and Africa benefiting from this body. The elections will take place in Pau, France on the 21st April 2026 where the New President of Rafting will be known.