Community informational meeting Monday at Olympic venue

GAINESVILLE - The Lanier Canoe 2003 Organizing Committee will hold an informational meeting Monday at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center Boat House to update area residents and interested citizens on the world championships to be held at the Olympic center next month.

The Lake Lanier Olympic Center will host the 33rd International Canoe Federation Flatwater Racing World Championships September 10-14.

The event will be the first canoe/kayak World Championships ever held in the United States and is the major qualifying event for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. It is expected to draw between 2,000 and 4,000 spectators a day from the United States and abroad. More than 70 countries and 1,250 athletes and officials are expected to attend, making he event the largest World Championships ever in terms of participating countries.

Canoes and kayaks which will be used in the competition have begun arriving at the venue, which hosted the 1996 Olympics rowing and canoe/kayak flatwater competition.

Monday's informational meeting will begin at 6:00.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/7/175383