Organizers will host Billy Payne at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center Tuesday during what they are billing as a "celebration of the Olympic spirit." It will include a silent auction to help endow the project.
"We would use (the money) to support the activities of the canoe-kayak club and the rowing club as they about their programs," said Jim Mathis Junior, one of the key players in bringing Olympic rowing and canoe/kayak competition to Gainesville in 1996.
Mathis discussed plans for the endowment a couple of weeks ago.
"We felt it was very appropriate, with the world championships coming up, that we find a way that all of us that were involved (in the Olympics) would create an endowment fund. We're hoping that it'll be $100,000 at some point."
The Lake Lanier Olympic Center, which hosting Olympics rowing and flat water canoe/kayak racing during the 1996 Summer Olympics, will the site of the 33rd International Canoe Federation Flat water Racing World Championships. Known locally as the Lanier Canoe 2003 World Championships, a qualifier for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, it will be held in mid-September.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/6/177918