Dragon Boat Championships to go Ahead in HK as SARS Cases Reducing

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 06, 2003

Dragon Boat Championships to go Ahead in HK as SARS Cases Reducing

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The annual traditional dragon boat championships will go ahead as scheduled on June 4, the date of traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong, where dailylife has been affected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak since March 12.

At present, a total of 120 teams are registered, according to the organizer, the Stanley Residents Association, who has confirmed that the event would proceed as scheduled for the 36th consecutive year.

Over the past two years, the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships has attracted more than 140 participating teams, making it one of the premier local dragon boat regattas and one of the world's largest events of its kind.

"In light of the lessening SARS infection rates, we are confident that the event is safe to be held and welcome all of ourparticipating teams and spectators," said Alson Wong, chairman of the Stanley Residents Association.

Dragon Boat Festival has been a long traditional holiday in memory of Qu Yuan, a great poet died in 278 BC in central China. He committed suicide by jumping into a river in a protest to then corrupted government officials. It was said that many dragon boatswere used to rescue Qu Yuan after local people heard the news.

After format changes to bring the race in line with international standards and continuing growth in participation over the past years, the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships has nowbeen recognized by the International Dragon Boat Federation and isprominently featured on the federation's international events calendar.

Last year's Stanley Cup Championships runners-up British Dragons have geared up themselves for the forthcoming event while the American Women's Association, winner of last year's ladies competition will defend the title against the challenge of second-placed Bondi Diggettes.

The origins of the dragon boating in Stanley go back as far as the 1800s. Originally a small fishing village, many of the local Chinese in Stanley relied on the sea for their livelihood, so it was only natural that dragon boat racing became a popular way to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival.

In the late 1960's the local races aroused the interest of several expatriates living in the area and these expatriates joined in the racing against the local Chinese in the early 1970's.

The Stanley Dragon Boat Championships has earned local and international reputation as it was featured in local magazines andwidely covered by CNN, BBC, and news and lifestyle media from Japan and Spain.

Questions?Comments? Click here

HK to Hold First Int'l Luminous Dragon Dance Game

HK's Dragon Boats Join Chinese New Year Celebrations in Sydney

China to Send Lunar-Probe Satellite in 3 Years: Expert ( 2 Messages)

Analysis: Germany Softening Anti-War Tone as It Enters UN Security Council ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Premier Pledges to Improve SARS Control ( 2 Messages)

China Launches First "Indigenous" Management Theory ( 9 Messages)

China Protects Safety of People from Overseas ( 3 Messages)