Legend has it that in the 4th century BCE, Chinese poet and statesmen Qu Yuan, tired of being repeatedly slandered and persecuted by the controlling political regime, threw himself into the Milo River to drown. News quickly spread of this, resulting in local fishermen rushing to save him. Years following Qu Yuan's death, local fishermen continued the tradition of racing their boats out into the river. What can be taken away from that story is this: a) who names a river "Milo"?  b) if a politician decided to drown himself today, no one would rush to save him; and c) this tradition developed into modern-day dragon boat racing. I mention this because of the ninth annual Dragon Boat Festival taking place all day today at Port Plaza in Olympia. This year 40 local and regional teams - representing all sorts of schools, government agencies and community organizations - will compete. Last year saw such exciting team names as the Snapfire Dragons of Economic Development and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Maybe the Department of Intertransitional Functioning will represent this year? Additionally, multi-cultural performances will take place, boats will be blessed, and a lion dance will be performed. And maybe a local politician will volunteer to throw themselves in the river.

NINTH ANNUAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Port Plaza, on the east side of Budd Inlet, downtown Olympia, free admission, www.stmartin.edu/dragonboat/