The 1952 Olympic canoeing program was precisely the same as it had been in 1948, with nine events, one for women (kayak singles 500 metres), and eight for men, four in kayak and four in Canadian canoes. Men contested four canoe sprint events, all over 1,000 metres in kayak singles and doubles, and Canadian singles and doubles.
The events were held in the Taival Bay (Taivallahti) just off the coast of Helsinki. A rowing and canoeing stadium, later named the Töölö Rowing Stadium, was built here for the 1940 Olympic Games, scheduled for Helsinki but never contested. For 1952 the International Rowing Federation (FISA) requested that the rowing events be moved to Meilahti, because of sea breezes, although the canoeing remained in Taivallahti.
| Event |
Status |
Date |
Participants |
NOCs |
| Kayak Singles, 1,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
28 July 1952 |
20 |
20 |
| Kayak Singles, 10,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
27 July 1952 |
17 |
17 |
| Kayak Doubles, 1,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
28 July 1952 |
38 |
19 |
| Kayak Doubles, 10,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
27 July 1952 |
36 |
18 |
| Canadian Singles, 1,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
28 July 1952 |
10 |
10 |
| Canadian Singles, 10,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
27 July 1952 |
10 |
10 |
| Canadian Doubles, 1,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
28 July 1952 |
22 |
11 |
| Canadian Doubles, 10,000 metres, Men |
Olympic |
27 July 1952 |
18 |
9 |
| Kayak Singles, 500 metres, Women |
Olympic |
28 July 1952 |
13 |
13 |
|
|
|
159 (146/13)
|
21 (21/13)
|
SWE
FIN
FRA
GER
AUT
HUN
TCH
USA
DEN
CAN
URS