Canoeing/kayaking was eliminated from the games, which feature more than 40 events, because of a lack of participation.

"We did have to go ahead and cancel that," games manager Scotty McDuffy said. "I know there's a really strong club up at (Lake) Lanier, but a lot of those people are on a trip in Canada. (Event director Jim Stringer) really didn't get a lot of good response from the other clubs he contacted."

Adult baseball is still scheduled to begin today, but don't expect to see a large number of Augusta participants in the sport for players 18 and older. Of the eight teams, seven are from Atlanta, and one is from Augusta.

"We were going to try and do four teams from Augusta and four from Atlanta," former co-event director Ellis McCain said. "Then they decided to take the first eight applications."

McCain said Augusta teams were slow to apply, sending in applications at the last minute to beat the July 1 deadline. Just four Atlanta teams were registered when the four Augusta teams sent in their forms. But, McCain said, after the applications from the Augusta teams reached the Georgia Games offices, there were 11 teams - three more than the limit.

McCain said he tried to formulate a plan to allow all 11 teams to play. His idea was to stretch the tournament to two weekends, but it was shot down by games officials. McCain resigned because of the controversy.

Canoeing/kayaking is not the first sport to be canceled at the games in Augusta. In 1999, the last time the city played host to the amateur athletic event, kickboxing was folded because of a low level of participation.

The '99 games drew 10,486 athletes, including entries from South Carolina and Tennessee. Games officials are expecting similar numbers this time around.

"We're looking at the same participation, if not better, for the athletes," McDuffy said. "I think we might have stronger spectator numbers as well, because people are familiar with it."

McDuffy couldn't provide exact figures on the number of athletes expected to participate.

"Given that a lot of the competitions - since we're spread out over two weekends - don't have entry deadlines until a day or two before the competitions, we're not going to have a good picture on that until the start of next weekend," he said. "We'd like to meet '99's numbers."

Games officials were making last-minute preparations Thursday, such as making sure volunteers would be in place today and that coolers and water will be available this weekend. Also, contingency plans were being made in case of bad weather.

TODAY'S EVENTS

ADULT BASEBALL: Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta State UniversityBOYS BASKETBALL: May Park, Garrett Gymnasium, W.T. Johnson, Richmond Academy, Murphy Middle, Boys Club, Glenn Hills Middle, Belle Terrace, McDuffie Woods (6 p.m.)

RACQUETBALL: Patriots Park Gymnasium (5 p.m.)

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 114, or at cag112@hotmail.com.