Whitewater Slalom
Whitewater slalom requires the paddler to navigate an obstacle course. Each competitor runs the course twice. Only the better score counts.

Competition
Contests begin with qualifying heats. The first three to finish in each heat advance directly to the semifinals. Competitors who don't finish in the top three take part in a "repechage," or second-chance round (repechage is the French word for "fishing again"), hoping to win a spot in the semifinals. The top three paddlers in semifinal competition move on to compete in the finals.

News, History, and Fast Facts

To learn the history of the sport that became an Olympic event in 1936, or to get more current news, go to CBS Sportline's Olympics 2000. Study up on details of canoes and kayaks with a comprehensive look at the rules on NBCOlympics.com. The USOC site features an updated news wire, a historical account of the sport, a rulebook, and a glossary. The Sydney 2000 site provides a closer look at the sport's two main events: the slalom and the sprint. Sydney 2000 Kids gives youngsters the chance to follow the action in the water. Pay a visit to the International Canoe Federation to learn the rules of the game.

All About Athletes

Log on to NBCOlympics.com for feature articles on the athletes to watch.

General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.

• Griffin Publishing Group's Official Olympic Sports page
  For information straight from the source, click on a sport to connect to its organization's official Web site.
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation News
  This site provides excellent information about Olympic sports and their rules. It also sizes up the best international competitors.
• CBS Sportsline's Olympics 2000
  Get top news stories and in-depth features about every sport.
• CCN/SI
  In addition to news on every sport, this site contains athlete diaries.
• NBCOlympics.com
  Select a sport to study or hear firsthand from an athlete who plays it.
• Sydney 2000
  The official site of the Sydney Olympics covers the events in detail.
• Sydney 2000 Kids' Guide to Olympic Sports
  Visit the Sportzone for sports-related information written especially for young students.
• USOC
  The United States Olympic Committee site includes the rules and history of events as well as athlete bios, diaries, and chats.
• Sydney 2000 Fans
  This unofficial site provides basic description of events and useful links to more information.

Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
(c) 1995 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.