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World Club Dragon Boat Championships Open at Taiwan’s Liyu Lake

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The 15th World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships are taking place from Sept. 1 to 6 at Liyu Lake in Shoufeng Township, Hualien.
  • Nearly 6,000 athletes from 21 countries attended the opening festivities, which included a parade and Indigenous traditional performances.
  • The competition features multiple boat sizes, distances, age groups, para-dragon boat events and categories for cancer survivors.

Rain did not dampen the opening of the World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships in Hualien. Nearly 6,000 athletes from 21 countries gathered at Dongdamen Square for an evening ceremony styled as a summer carnival before racing began.

The event, organized by the International Dragon Boat Federation, runs from Sept. 1 to 6 at Liyu Lake in Shoufeng Township. Held every two years, it allows independent teams to compete and is described as the largest club-based dragon boat competition in the world.

Tonight, we are all standing together. No one can win on their own. When we unite, we can fly. That is the spirit of dragon boating.

— Claudio SchermiThe International Dragon Boat Federation president addressed athletes at the opening ceremony.

This is the first time Taiwan has hosted the championships. An evening parade gave Taiwan a chance to welcome the international teams, while athletes and local residents waved and took photographs along the route. Indigenous traditional dancers led the local welcome.

IDBF President Claudio Schermi told participants that dragon boat racing depended on collective effort. “Tonight, we are all standing together. No one can win on their own. When we unite, we can fly. That is the spirit of dragon boating.”

Dragon boating is played on the water, so rain is absolutely no problem for us. We are using that clean water from heaven to welcome everyone. Please enjoy the races, Hualien’s hospitality and our food.

— Huang Chi-huangTaiwan’s deputy sports minister encouraged competitors during the rainy opening ceremony.

Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Sports Huang Chi-huang also met representatives from the participating countries. Speaking in English, he joked that rain was no obstacle for a sport played on water and encouraged competitors to enjoy the races, Hualien’s hospitality and its food.

The championships include 20-person standard dragon boats and 10-person small boats. Races cover 200 meters, 500 meters and 2,000-meter circuits. Divisions include open, women’s, mixed, under-18, under-24 and senior categories, as well as para-dragon boat and cancer survivor events.

Hualien is my home and the place where I grew up. Being able to welcome athletes from around the world here is especially meaningful.

— Lin Sheng-juThe local athlete delivered the competitors’ oath at the opening ceremony.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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