Oro to host international rafting in 2007

With the wild rapids of the Cagayan de Oro river, the city is capable of hosting the International Rafting Federation (IRF) World Championship Series in the last quarter of next year.

Mr. Mark Geoffe, board of director of IRF who was in the city recently to watch and manage the 4th National Whitewater Rafting Challenge over the weekend disclosed this.

Geoffe said that with the year-round navigable rapids of the Cagayan de Oro River and its exotic beauty and wild rapids, the city is truly capable of hosting an international event like the World Series.

Since the city lost its bid to Seoul, South Korea for the 2007 World Rafting Championship where Geoffe is the event organizer, he said that the city can be part of the World Series which happens every year and will possibly be in the city by October-November of 2007.

The World Series is a rafting challenge where the best paddlers of each participating country will test their courage and spirit in the wild river of the host countries.

As a veteran paddler who rafted in the world’s wildest rivers, Geoffe finds the Cagayan de Oro river as one of the best in the world especially the up-stream of Cagayan de Oro river like in Ugiaban and Sto. Nino.

The adventure tourism of the city has a high potential for the world market, said Geoffe who considered the city’s adventure packages as good enough to compete globally.

Geoffe, together with the local rafting group-- the Cagayan de Oro Whitewater Rafting Adventure is set to visit Department of Tourism secretary Ace Durano for the hosting of next year’s event. (City Information Office)

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