Canoes and kayaks are small and narrow boats propelled by one or more people using a paddle. Competitors race down a straight, flat-water course. Unlike rowing, they face in the direction of travel and the paddle is not attached to the boat.

The two main differences between canoe and kayak concern seating position and paddle. In a canoe, the paddler kneels on one knee, propelling the boat with a single bladed paddle. In a kayak, paddlers sit with legs extended forward and use a double-bladed paddle.

Canoe-kayak competitions are an extreme test of physical strength and stamina. Races often end in dramatic finishes with boats making late runs for the line from behind.

Canoes and kayaks began their history as a simple, practical method of transport on coastal and inland waterways. The two main types developed were open-topped canoes, used in warmer climates such as North and South America and the South Pacific, and closed- topped kayaks, developed by the Aleuts and Inuit in the Arctic.

The Royal Canoe Club of London was formed as the first canoe- kayak sporting organization in 1866. The New York Canoe Club was established five years later.

Canoeing first featured in the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the Paris Games in 1924. It became a full medal sport at Berlin in 1936 with both canoe and kayak events. Women first entered the sport, competing only in kayaking, at the 1948 London Games.

Sources: Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee, Xinhua Database