The World Rafting Championship "Banja Luka 2009", which will gather around 600 athletes from 55 teams from 35 countries was officially opened on May 17, 2009, at Krajina Square in Banja Luka. The Championship will be taking place until May 24 at the rivers of Vrbas in Banja Luka and Tara in Foča.

The Championship official opening ceremony started with the procession of the competitors which stretched out all the way from the seat of the Government of the Republic of Srpska to Krajina Square. The procession was anticipated as the simulation of a raft race, with a sport promoting the City of Banja Luka presented at each gate.

The Championship was officially opened by the Mayor of Banja Luka, Mr Dragoljub Davidović, who was at the same time the Chairman of the Championship Organizational Board.

Welcoming the competitors, Davidović said that the event was of huge significance to both the Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also expressed hopes that young athletes, the Championship participants, would convey their impressions about our gems, the rivers of Vrbas and Tara, to their age peers in the countries from which they come.
"We have been given the opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities in organizing demanding events like this one. Besides the Organizational Board, a great deal of volunteers, citizens of Banja Luka and Foča and other individuals and teams took participation in the organizational process. I would like to express my cordial gratitude to all of them and to everybody who helped in any way so that this work could be successfully finished", Davidović said. He also thanked the International Rafting Federation, which, as he said, honored the City of Banja Luka with the opportunity to host the Championships, the organizer Rafting Club Canyon, the Government of the Republic of Srpska, under whose auspices the Championship is taking place, the Council of Ministers, and all the other sponsors of the Championship.                

The Minister for Family, Youth and Sport in the Government of the Republic of Srpska, Mr Proko Dragosavljević, expressed hopes that Banja Luka and the Republic of Srpska would offer a memorable lifetime experience to all the participants at this huge sports event.  

The President of the World Rafting Federation, Mr Rafael Gallo, said that he was pleased with the Championship organization and thanked the Mayor of Banja Luka and all the citizens for great hospitality.
„I believe that this will be one of the most eventful world championships", Gallo said.

Some of the participanting countries are Serbia, Czech Republic, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Austria, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Croatia, Montenegro, Great Britain, USA, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Turkey...

During the Championship official opening ceremony the audience was entertained by the choir „Banjalučanke" and the choir of small rafters who sang the Championship hymn. The concert of the band „Balkanika" followed the fireworks.