Olympics! Meet war canoe racing.(Derrick George's fight to have sport at the summer Olympics)

Wind Speaker, December, 2003 by Laskaris, Sam

If Derrick George had a wish, it would be to see the sport of war canoe racing added to the Summer Olympics' roster of activities.

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War canoe racing features 11 participants paddling feverishly in one canoe. The canoe is a 50-foot boat, and although each one costs about $25,000 to make, George is confident there are many others interested in the sport's Olympic inclusion.

"I have so many people jumping on board," said George, a 41-year-old Native of Coast Salish descent living on the Burrard reserve in North Vancouver. "And I haven't put fulltime effort into it until the last few months or so."

The summer Olympics, held every four years, already includes various canoeing events. At present there are singles and...

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