DSN June 2020 Final

DRAGON SPORT NEWS

SPORT NEWS – THE EMAGAZINE FOR ALL DRAGON BOATERS

the Emagazine for Dragon Boaters world-wide

Incorporating Dragon Boat International Newsletter

“An Independent Voice for Dragon Boat Sport”

June 2020 Isssue No.13. SPECIAL EDITION No:3

Final

To Travel or

Not to

Travel. That

is the

question

Be Positive !

Go for the burn

now and we can

beat it to the

finish

COVID-19, Facts, Figures and Questions. 25 Years since 1 st World Champs in Yueyang. News from the Sport.

Who, Where, When and Why ?

HEADLINE LOOK AT THE NEWS INSIDE DS

SN.......

EDITORIAL

Travel, post Covid-19, should we and the

1 st IDBF World Champs 25 th Anniversary.

Page 3.

Special Features

To Travel or Not To Travel

Blast from the Past – The 1 st IDBF World

Championships, Yueyang, China, 1995

Pages 7, 11-18.

FEATURES

Talking Point - Who is the IDBF Council

AIMS Update

Pink Paddlers News from the IBCPC

Talking Point – Cancelled IDBF Club Champs

Pages 19, 22, 24, 26.

Culture Corner

2020 Dragon Boat Festivals in Taiwan,

Macau and Hong Kong and the

Traditional Story

Pages 30,31.

INTERNATIONAL RACES - UPDATES

EDBF Championships in 2021 .

Nations and Clubs to be held in Kiev

Page.11.

Dragon Boat International News & Events

2021 PanAm Small Boat Championships.

Message from the Dragon Boat Federation of India

Page; 2.

Know How

Sports Science Corner By Leila Atae

COVID-19, Facts and Figures, Questions Answered

“What is it. Symptoms, COVID-19, a Cold or Flu”

Drug Free Sport – New Innovation from Australia

Pages; 4-6, 10.

CALENDAR OF DRAGON BOATING

Events and Festivals June to December 2020

Pages; 32 -35

Dragon Boating – Not just a Mass Participation Sport but an Ancient Tradition “ 2.

Dragon Sport News - Emagazine


June 2020 Special Edition No:3

TO TRAVEL OR NOT TO TRAVEL – THAT IS THE QUESTION !

WELCOME to this 3 rd Special Edition of Dragon Sport News, published during

the COVID-19 pandemic, to keep you informed and interested in Dragon

Boating world-wide. wide. DSN is the independent E-magazine with news and views

on all aspects of Dragon Boating and what people think and feel about it !

In this issue of DSN we put forward some thoughts on travel post COVID-19,

both international and national and discuss ways in which sport in particular, might

be organised and operate in the next year ot two or maybe longer.

Talking of international travel, it is 25 years since the 1 st IDBF World Championships were held in Yueyang, China

and to celebrate the occasion, a special Edition of Longzhou News (the Official IDBF Newsletter) has just been

published, with lots of pictures and reminiscences nces from those who attended that very first Championships.

To further mark the 25 th Anniversary of the 1 st IDBF World Champs, , in this issue of DSN, is the story that led to the

success of the first championships, including some participants recollections, all of whom are still involved in the Sport.

As the person who co-ordinated the event, and was responsible for the techical side of the Championships, including

writing the Race Programme and who, as the IDBF Executive President, declared the 1st IDBF World Championships

officially ‘Open’, I was a little surprised not to be asked by the IDBF, for my memories of this historic event.

DSN also takes a further look at things COVID-19, with advice from Dr Leila Ataei and covers the story of the

foundation of AIMS (the Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) an organisation that I co-founded.

Mike MacKeddie-Haslam . DSN Editor.

Picture Me Picture You.

A Well Earned Rest on a Hot, Humid Day

1st IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships, Yueyang, China 1995.

Photos: Courtesy of Makoto Shobu

Comment, articles and pictures for Dragon Sport News should be sent to the Editor:

Tel: + 44 (0) 1243 862652. Email: mikehaslam@dragonboat.org.uk or mikehaslam@aol.com

Articles etc for the IDBF Newsletter, Long Zhou eNews, should be sent to the Editor, Email newsletter@idbf.org

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Dragon Boating. " More than a Sport – a Tradition " 3.

Dragon Sport News - Emagazine “An Independent Voice for Dragon Boat Sport” June 2020 Special Edition No:3

MEDICAL & SPORTS SCIENCE CORNER

by Dr Leila Ataei

Continuing the look at the Coronavirus – Article 3.

E-mail: Leila.Ataei1983@gmail.com

Leila is a Member of the EDBF Medical & Sports Science Commission .

Dr.Leila Ataei is a lecturer and researcher in Sports Medicine & Physiology, specialising in Exercise, Diet and Nutrition. Having

obtained her Phd in Iran, she is currently completing her Doctorate in Sport Science, at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, where

she now lives. Previously in Iran, she spent 3 years studying medicine, including being a front line medic following a major

earthquake in the region, before switching to biochemistry and then completing her Master’s degree in Sport Physiology. Leila’s

present focus is on Sport Medicine and Anti-Doping issues, especially concerning fitness in trained athletes and sedentary people,

of all ages and their recovery regimes

In Article 3 of my series about the coronavirus COVID-19, I look at some virus facts and figures, with

acknowledgement to WEBMD, the research being done to combat the illness and with the help of my special

colleague Pinky the Scientist, answer some of the common questions being asked about COVID-19. Leila.

COVID-19. SOME FACTS & FIGURES

There is more than one type of coronavirus and they are common in both people and animals. SARS (COV-2)

the virus that causes COVID-19, is similar to MERS and SARS which both came from bats.

Those at Risk. Researchers aren’t sure what caused COVID-19 but whilst anyone can get it most infections

are usually mild, especially in children and young adults. People over 65 are most likely to get a serious illness,

as are those, who have weakened immune systems, or who have pre-existing medical conditions such as High Blood

Pressure; Heart, Lung or Liver disease; Asthma and Diabetes. Cigarette smokers and those with obesity or undergoing

cancer treatment or needing kidney dialysis, are also more likely to get a serious illness from COVID-19.

A very, very small number of children and teenagers who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 have also developed

an inflammatory condition called Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome ( MIS-C). Medical Practitioners feel that MIS-C may

be linked to COVID-19. Symptoms similar to those of toxic shock and of Kawasaki disease, a condition that causes

inflammation in children’s’ blood vessels, can develop with MIS-C but as with COVID-19 itself, it is a very rare illness.

WHAT IS ASYMPTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ? The definition of ‘Asymptomatic’, is a condition or a person

producing or showing no symptoms. For most viruses there is an incubation period which is the time between a person

catching a germ and first showing symptoms of the illness. An asymptomatic person may catch the infection and never have

any symptoms of it but it is still possible for them to spread an infection. Flu, for example, is contagious a day before someone

develops flu symptoms. COVID-19, is most contagious when someone first has the symptoms but it is still possible for

someone to spread the infection to another person even without even knowing it, at any time when they are infectious.

HOW DOES THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD ?

The virus is transmitted, in the main, when someone

with the virus coughs or sneezes within 2 metres of

another person and the virus carried in the air can get into

the body through the second persons mouth.

Asymptomatics who have the virus but don't have

symptoms, can still spread the virus. The virus can also

spread through people touching a surface or object the

virus is on, then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

A study has shown that the virus can last for several

hours on various types of surfaces, for example up to 24

hours on cardboard and as long as 2 to 3 days on plastic

and stainless steel. This is why it’s important to disinfect

surfaces and hand wash regularly, to get rid of the virus.

There is no evidence that humans can catch COVID-19

from an animal but some cats and dogs have tested

positive for the virus and a few have shown signs of

illness, so keep an eye on your pets.

Research is also being done to find out if the virus

spreads through the air or through fecal material.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY SPREAD ?

Doctors and medics use the term ‘community spread’

when they are unsure of the source of the infection.

Where COVID-19, is concerned it usually refers to a

person who gets the virus even though they haven’t left

their own region or country or haven’t mixed at work or

socially with someone who’s recently travelled abroad or

been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.

A person in California who had not travelled to an affected

area or been exposed to someone with the disease, was

confirmed in February as being infected with COVID-19.

It is probable that the person concerned was exposed

to someone who was infected but didn’t know they had the

virus. This was the first recorded case of community

spread in the USA.



WHAT’S THE LONG-TERM PROGNOSIS FOR

SOMEONE WITH COVID-19 ?

Pinky Scientist says. At the moment, there is

not very much data on the long-term outcomes from

COVID-19 but fortunately, 80% of those who catch the virus

only suffer mild symptoms and fully recover. There is no

current evidence to show that they would have any longterm

implications from catching the virus..

For those with more severe symptoms that require them

to be hospitalized but without the need for intubation

(mechanical ventilation) to help their breathing, there are

also no known long-term issues. Someone who is critically

ill and does require intubation, are more likely to have

longer-term recovery issues that are similar to anyone who

develops acute respiratory distress from any cause.

WHO IS MOST AT RISK OF DYING FROM

CORONAVIRUS ? Pinky Scientist says.

Looking at data from China about the spread of

the virus there, the statistics indicate that the highest death

rate is likely to be in the 80+ age group, where some 14% of

those affected by the virus may die.

Conversely, the Chinese data showed that the expected

death rate for people aged 30 or younger is about 1% of

that age group. Whilst age is one risk factor for disease and

death, it is not the only one.

Being young does not mean you cannot get infected or that

you are safe from severe disease. As mentioned earlier

those, who have weakened immune systems, or who

have pre-existing medical conditions, what-ever their age,

are also in the same high risk group as those

over 65 years old.

DO I HAVE CORONAVIRUS OR AM I JUST

WHEEZING ?

Pinky Scientist says. For those with a history of

asthma, coronavirus can cause an asthma attack and

wheezing. Let your doctor know if the situation develops

into a fever and shortness of breath. Your Doctor will

decide if a coronavirus test makes sense for you.

If you don’t have any signs of a fever, take a puff of your

inhaler to see if it resolves your symptoms. Basically, If you

are at all concerned, for any reason about your symptoms,

give your Doctor a call.

VACCINE UPDATE. Currently there are more than 168 potential vaccines for COVID-19 being researched.

Optimistic experts hope that a viable vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020 others caution that this may be

unrealistic and no one is prepared to guarantee a vaccine will be ready for public use this year. This is mainly

because only a small number of these potential vaccines are being tested on people and the chances are that

many of the other projects won't survive beyond the laboratory stage. Even so, vaccine experts are saying that

many different approaches are being researched and that collaboration between the small firms developing the vaccines

and the large drug companies with the capacity to mass produce them, give reason for hope for early 2021.

FOOD VERSES SUPPLEMENTS. Sales of food supplements have increased dramatically as a result of the COVID-19

pandemic but experts say that you can absorb more nutrients through whole foods than through supplements. However

they also say that a multi-vitamin can be helpful if you are not getting all your nutrients from your diet or are unwell.

Vitamin C supplements are popular and this vitamin is very important for the immune system.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SUPPRESS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM .

Pinky Scientist says.

A Lack of Sleep. A lack of sleep may mean you are more likely to catch viruses or germs. Your body can take

longer to recover too as your immune system can’t make as many antibodies as it needs to fight infections and

your body only releases certain proteins called cytokines, into the immune system, during sleep.

Anxiety & Grief. Having anxious thoughts can weaken your immune system’s response to a virus and constant stress

even more so. A weak immune system makes it harder for you to fend off the flu and other viruses. There is some evidence

that sorrow, especially if your grief is deep seated. can depress your body’s immunity for 6 months or more. Talk to your

doctor if you can’t shake off your worry or if it hinders your normal life or if you need help with loss or a traumatic event.

Some Medications. Drugs to treat allergies, arthritis, lupus, IBS, and organ transplants, such as Corticosteroids, are

medications that can suppress your immune system. TNF inhibitors for inflammation and chemotherapy for cancer are

others. Before thinking about adjusting any prescription drugs you may be taking, consult your doctor.

Low Vitamin D. You need Vitamin D for strong bones and healthy blood cells and also to boost your immune system.

There is Vitamin D in eggs, fatty fish, and fortified foods like milk and cereal but the main key source of Vitamin D comes

from sunlight. In the summer, just 15 minutes of the Sun’s rays on your body, hands, face, and arms at least 2-3 times a

week can be enough but in the winter, you may need to take a Vitamin D supplement.

However as many people may be spending more time indoors due to the lockdown, the current advice is to consider

taking a 10 microgram vitamin D supplement throughout spring and summer. This advice is “not about preventing

coronavirus, but advice for maintaining muscle and bone health.



COVID-19: WHAT IS IT AND THE SYMPTOMS, IS IT THE VIRUS, OR A COLD OR FLU?

by Sanjaya Senanayake, The Conversation. Medical Express.

You're probably inundated with news and messages about coronavirus at the moment. But how do you know if

you're consuming evidence-based information or just speculation and myth? There's still a lot we don't know but here's

what the evidence tells us so far about the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes, COVID-19.

What are the symptoms?

COVID-19 causes similar symptoms to the flu. Fever is the most common symptom, occurring in almost 88% of cases,

while a dry cough is the next most common, affecting almost 68% of those with the virus. Unlike other coronaviruses that

cause the common cold, COVID-19 is hardly ever associated with a stuffy nose. This is seen in just 5% of cases. Diarrhoea

is also uncommon, affecting only 4% with the virus. Can I be infected if I don't have a fever? Yes, you can still have

coronavirus if you don't have a fever. This occurs in about 12% of cases



TO TRAVEL OR NOT TO TRAVEL ? THAT IS THE QUESTION !

“Whether it is better to suffer the stress and strain of the plane or by changing our way of life, end it

As Countries around the world start to ease

restrictions on social gatherings, shopping and travel,

we are all looking forward to the ‘end’ of the COVID-19

pandemic sweeping the world and a return to

‘normality’ that is, our previous life styles.

Whatever the outcome COVID-19, the facts are that the

virus was able to leave China and spread so rapidly around

the world because millions of people can travel across the

globe so quickly and cheaply, thanks to low cost airfares.

Such easy travel enabled the virus to spread throughout

the world, before we were even aware of it.

The high cost of air travel 30-40 years ago, meant that

only the rich and relatively wealthy or those with sports

grants from governments, could afford to fly to other

Countries or take part in international sports events.

Today air travel has become so inexpensive that the cost of

flying from London to Geneva, is far cheaper than catching

a train from London to Edinburgh and even cheaper than

the fuel cost of doing the same journey by car.

World travel is probably the biggest factor in the

transmission of COVID-19, has not been lost on

governments’ around the world, who have imposed travel

restrictions on people and forced airlines to stop flying,

except for commercial goods.

Governments’ have put strict self-quarantine conditions

on travellers coming into their areas and have introduced

health checks and certification on people travelling from

one country to another.

As the airlines start to operate again on a limited scale,

social distancing within aircraft is being introduced. This will

restrict the number of passengers a plane can carry.

Check-in will be a very different and lengthy procedure,

followed by security checks and health checks before

departure (and again on arrival at your destination) as well

as lengthy boarding procedures before you depart and

probably other lengthy procedures before you can get off

the aircraft and leave the airport at your destination.

Then there is the possibility, in some countries, of you

having to self-isolate for up to 14 days, when you get home

again (and maybe also at your ‘holiday’ destination)

This situation is very likely to continue until an

effective vaccine for COVID-19 is developed and the

majority of the world’s travelling population (at least) can

prove that they do not have COVID-19 by showing their

‘health certificate’. This ‘end game’ is not likely to occur

much before the end of 2021, if at all.

Given the above scenario or indeed irrespective of how and

when travel restrictions will be lifted, the cost of air travel

will undoubtedly increase for many years to come.

Of course we all hope that things will eventually

get back to ‘normal’ but what will ‘normal’ be.

COVID-19 has seen a huge number of people using IT

systems to communicate with each other socially,

work from home and hold business and other types of

meetings.

WhatsApp, WeChat, Zoom, Skype, You Tube, Face

Book etc, etc, have all been used extensively to keep

the wheels of society turning, whilst we have been

confined to our homes almost 24 hours a day, seven

days a week, with the result that we have adapted to a

world where not to travel has become the ‘norm’.

The good things that have come out of this bad

experience, is that we are communicating with each

other more often and directly; we are seeing more of

our immediate family living with us (with mixed

results); air pollution from cars, trains and planes has

decreased dramatically.

At home, we have saved money on fuel and

unnecessary shopping items; we have enjoyed going

for walks in our local parks and appreciated more the

wild life that surrounds us.

We have found ways of exercising and training for

our sports’ through video groups and discussions. We

have found out that life, without the daily grind of

travelling to work, is much less stressful.

Most importantly too, employers have begun to

accept that a less stressful ‘home worker’ is a more

productive employee and that having people working

‘flexi hours’ is less stressful too.

So when you take all these things into

consideration and the way that your day to day life

style has changed during the past 4 months or so,

what will the ‘normal’ be in the years to come,

especially when it comes to travelling to national

sports events and around the world for international

competitions, continental and world championships.

Will you be prepared to pay much more now for

your flights (or fuel for the car) than before, to compete

in events or attend committee meetings and

conferences, especially the later two, which you can

take part in through zoom.

Will you want to go through all the extra hassle of

airport terminals and wearing a face mask for your

flight. Will the thought of catching coronavirus or

family pressures, ‘not to go’, put you off the idea of

travelling to a sporting event or meeting, unless it is

absolutely necessary.



In Dragon Boating, where most of us are participating with our own money and giving our time freely as competitors,

coaches and officials, we should look seriously at these potential ‘new norms’, as they may affect our Sport.

I do not want to sound like a prophet of doom, far from it. We should look forward with positivity and enthusiasm for

the future of our Sport but I believe that we must consider the kind of ‘worse case’ scenario, that I have alluded to above

and in doing so, look at how we can ensure that dragon boating survives and flourishes, as the exciting and very social

sport that we have enjoyed so far.

In the post COVID-19 world, I think the main areas of

Dragon Boating that we need to examine very closely and

discuss across the Dragon Boat World, are Organisation &

Communication, Administration & Competition.

Especially Competition where a radical overhaul of how

we conduct and take part in Dragon Boat Racing may be

necessary, if we are to meet the social rules, guidelines and

expectations of the new ‘normal’, post COVID-19 world, that

governments’ will want us to accept.

Sport Organisation & Communication. Dragon Boating,

as a Sport, is organised along traditional democratic

lines, with individuals belonging to a Dragon Boat Crew or

Club and their Club belonging to a National organisation,

which may or may not have an individual member’s scheme.

The National organisation will normally affiliate to a

Regional and/or Continental and then World Governing

body. Membership of these ‘non National’ sports bodies is

rarely, if ever, offered to individuals or clubs but is restricted

to recognised National Governing Bodies.

In the same way the World Governing body

(International Federation) for a sport, like the IDBF in the

case of Dragon Boating, will normally become a member of

a multi-sports organisation, such as the GAISF (Global

Association of International Sports Federations) and then

the IOC (International Olympic Committee) if the sport has

aspirations to become an ‘Olympic Sport’.

The IDBF is a Member of the GAISF and has applied for

IOC Membership. Again there is no direct individual

membership of either the GAISF or IOC and only the

international federations vote.

At all levels members of their respective organisations

elect people from within their organisation to represent

them at the next level in the sports’ organisational chain but

in the process this representation system becomes more

and more distant from the ‘grass roots’ of the sport and the

people practising it.

By that I mean that above national level, no one is

elected to the next level organisation by a vote of the

majority of participants in their sport but only by people

elected to represent them at National level and with this

system communication down the chain starts to become one

of implementing decisions taken by a few ‘elected

representatives’ and not one of consultation and discussion

with the grass roots participants.

The pyramid gets narrower as you climb the

sports chain, so that at world and multi sports levels,

the individual participants in a sport do not directly

elect the people ‘governing’ their sport or have much

say, if any, in the decisions made in their name.

This traditional system of sport organisation, most of

which only came into existence in the 20 th Century, is

understandable given the methods of travel and

communication available but given the development

of the world-wide web, social media and the everincreasing

development and use of Information

Technology, surely sport can now be organised in a

better way and communication between the elected

representatives and those they are elected to serve,

can, in the process, be greatly enhanced and

improved.

Video meetings and electronic communication

systems have been used extensively during the

COVID-19 pandemic, so why not use these

organisational and communication methods in the

future, especially at international level, saving time

and money travelling the world (especially as

volunteer representatives) and helping to protect the

environment, at the same time.

Governments and politicians around the globe are

now using all these ‘modern communication methods’

to communicate and influence their ‘grass roots

people’, so why not sport.

Businesses are now holding their Annual General

Meetings by combining actual face to face meetings

and conferences with video participants and

electronic voting, so why not international sports

federations, like the IDBF and even GAISF and the

IOC. IDBF, GAISF and IOC meetings that were

previously closed door meetings and conferences

could be open to all those who wished to attend,

watch or participate in them.

COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to change

the way we govern our sport and communicate

within it. Let us do it for the betterment of our

Sport.



Sport Administration & Competition. In the field of sports administration, both modern communications and IT

systems can greatly improve the transfer of information and paperwork between the appointed administrators, the

elected representatives and those participating in a particular sport.

Meeting agendas and minutes can now be sent to every person in the sport, if necessary, at the push of a button.

Information bulletins, newsletters and financial matters can be dealt with entirely electronically. Even running accounts

and keeping financial records can be a ‘paperless’ system, no filing cabinets required. The need for hard or posted

copies of correspondence, has almost disappeared and so has the need for an Office to work from.

For all sports events there are now requirements on

competitors, officials and spectators, certainly in the short to

medium term, to comply with social distancing requirements.

Our very social sport, that confines two football (soccer)

teams in a confined space, social distancing is working

against us during the pandemic and may do so afterwards,

in the new social ‘norm’ for the world.

Going forward, this will adversely affect Dragon Boating

more than single person to person sports and also the

ability of event organisers to hold worthwhile and meaningful

events.

Post COVID-19, what enthusiasm and desire will there be

from people (especially in Festival Racing) to take part in or

indeed travel long distances to compete in a team sport that

puts 20 athletes in close proximity to each other, in one boat

which the medical scientists’ tell us is ideal way of spreading

COVID-19 and other members of the corona virus family.

The answer to all of these questions is that we simply

don’t’ know how people will react to being involved in

Dragon Boating, so Competition, is in my view the area

where we really do have to prepare for a worse case

scenario and look at ways in which we can continue to take

part in and enjoy our Sport, whilst complying with every

social distancing rules and any other restrictions that

governments around the world may place on sports events.

An idea being tried out in training in the USA, is strapping

two boats together side by side, so that the crew can

maintain the 2 metre social distancing rule both across and

down the boat. Worth a try but hard work.

In New Zealand, a crew whose members all have health

certificates to show they are COVID-19 free, can train

together in a ‘crew bubble’.

This means they use only a designated Dragon Boat,

use their own paddles and buoyancy aids, disinfect the boat

and all the equipment after each training session and most

importantly each time they train, a picture is taken of the

crew in the boat showing where they are sitting in the boat

and with whom they are partnered.

This is so that in the event that one of those in the bubble

contracts COVID-19, it will be easy to track and test those

sitting around them in the boat.

There are other ideas for training being tried

around the Dragon Boat world. Hopefully event

organisers will be looking at innovate ways to keep

their Dragon Boat Festivals alive and kicking, as will

the National and International Federations for our

Sport, when it comes to Dragon Boat Championships.

To cut down on the amount of travelling crews do,

perhaps the Sport should be developing more

regionally based competitions at National level, with a

‘National Championships’ only for Regional winners or

the Nationals only taking place very two years and not

annually.

At international level, maybe the annual focus

could be on Continental Championships, for Clubs

and Nations with a World Nations Champs every four

years.

So the pattern would be, Year 1. Continental Clubs

Champs, Year 2 Continental Nations Champs, Year 3

Continental Clubs Champs and Year 4 World Nations

Champs.

All participants would be required to have the relevant

health certificate to attend an event Such a system

would keep international travelling and participants

personal costs to a minimum and give more value to

getting medals at World Champs level.

Other national and international level events, such

as dragon boat competitions through, video links and

zoom type systems could be developed.

Competitions on Dragon Boat Ergos, both physically,

as now and through video competitions, could also be

introduced.

Squash Ladder type competitions over the season,

with ‘grand finals’ at the end of the season could be

developed, with set water depths and wind conditions

factored in.

There must be many ways of delivering meaningful

and worthwhile types of Dragon Boating. COVID-19

has forced us to work, differently, live differently and

think differently.

Let us use this new normal world, for the

betterment of our Sport.





EURO NEWS

KIEV 2021 EUROPEAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS (ENC)

The 53rd EDBF Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 9th June 2020,

discussed the format and dates for the 2021 EDBF Nations

Championships, in Kiev, that has been postponed from 2020.

After discussion, the Council decided to recommend to the 2020

EDBF Congress that the 2021 EDBF Club Crew Championships

(ECCC) should also be held in Kiev, alongside the postponed

Nations Championships (ENC) over a 6 day period, as proposed by

the EDBF President, Claudio Schermi, following discussions he

had had with a number of EDBF Member Countries.

It was agreed that an ECCC and ENC could not run along-side

each other on the same racing days, as a number of competitors

might be part of both their National Team and their Club Crew.

Double rostering would not be practical either, if the two

Championships were combined on one race programme and

above all, the welfare of the athletes too, would need to be

carefully considered.

Therefore the ECCC would need to be run over, for example 3.5

days and then the ENC over 2.5 days or visa versa.

It was further agreed that in the interest of the paddlers and the EDBF Members, that with a combined EDBF

Championships’ held over a straight 6 days racing programme, that there would only be one Race Administration

Fee, per participant, payable to the Organisers and one EDBF Registration Fee payable to the EDBF, even if a

competitor was entered in both the ENC and ECCC

The proposed dates for the Kiev Joint Championships are 18 th to 23 rd August 2021, to be agreed and ratified by the

online EDBF Congress on 19 th July 2020, commencing at 0900 (BST), 1000 (CET), 1100 (Cyprus & Israel).

DRUG FREE SPORT – NEW INOVATION FROM AUSTRALIA

As part of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s (ASADA) ongoing commitment to deliver anti-doping

education in engaging, innovative ways, the agency has launched a new Augmented Reality App that shows what

happens to an athlete’s body when they take prohibited substances.ASADA’s main purpose is to protect the health of

athletes and its new App, developed in partnership with Drug Free Sport New Zealand, will help to do just that.

So how does it work? Through the app, users create their own avatar who (unfortunately) experiences all the health

effects of certain substances. By using the phone’s camera, users can peer inside their avatar to see how performance

enhancing drugs change their organs and nervous system

Specifically, the App looks at the effects of steroids, stimulants, EPO, HGH, SARMs and opioids. Stroke, liver

damage, tumours and anxiety are just a few of the side effects of prohibited substance that are covered in the app. But

it’s not all doom and gloom for the avatar.

After looking at all the negative effects, , users literally get to take some ‘good’ performance enhancers and hear

about the benefits of being a Clean Freak. The App concludes with a quiz on everything users have learned.

Looking into the future, the App is another tool to be incorporated into face-to-face education sessions and

outreach events to engage athletes on the risk of performance enhancing drugs. ASADA CEO David Sharpe believes

some-times athletes are not seeing the full picture when it comes to performance enhancing substances.

“Some of the substances that we are seeing athletes use in sport are incredibly dangerous, including

some that are schedule 10 poisons, and others that have not even been approved for human

use.”“Ensuring athletes are aware of the health risks, especially at a young age, is critical if we want to

protect their health and wellbeing.”

The ASADA Augmented Reality Health Effects App shows ASADA’s continued commitment to developing new

technologies in anti-doping education, which allows us to spread the message of integrity in sport to all levels and all

ages.



A 25th ANNIVERSARY, BLAST FROM THE PAST

THE 1 ST IDBF WORLD NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS

14 th – 18 th June 1995 – Nanhu Lake, Yueyang City, Hunan, China

Extracts from “Racing the Dragon – the First 40 years”, by Mike MacKeddie-Haslam

On the formation of the IDBF in Hong Kong in June 1991, one of the first things that I thought very important was to

hold a World Championships for the Sport, as soon as was practical but the more sensitive question was, where. To me

the choice had to be between Hong Kong and China. In 1992, at one of the first IDBF Council meetings I put this

proposal forward and after consulting with colleagues, especially the Chinese, it was agreed that the 1 st World

Championships would be held in China in 1995 and our Chinese colleagues were asked to select the City for it.

At that time I was the IDBF Sec-General and as I had the experience of organising the 1981 ICF World Flat Water

Championships and had officiated at many other ICF World Champs, I was appointed to master-mind the project, as the

Competition Director for the IDBF and set up a joint organising committee with the Chinese Dragon Boat Association

(CDBA) and the selected City. No one had ever organised a World Championships for Dragon Boat Sport but the Chinese

had a vast experience in organising Dragon Boat Festivals and so I was confident that together we could do the job.

The city selected, in 1993, was Yueyang in Hunan

Province, which was where the famous warrior poet Qu

Yuan had drowned himself in the Milo River.

His death had been commemorated here and throughout

Southern China ever since, through Racing Dragon Boats.

Therefore, Yuyang City was a very appropriate venue for

the 1st World Championship.

The ball was rolling and the serious planning began.

At that time Merk Hauck (Sec-Gen of the British DBA) was

the Chair of the IDBF Regatta & Technical Commission

and so as the Competition & Race Directors, respectively,

for the event, we fronted the IDBF Delegation, that met

with the local organising committee (consisting of 14

people from the City and Province), together with Mason

Hung from Hong Kong, Yen Yao from Taipei (IDBF VP)

and Ms Yan Shu Wen (CDBA Deputy Sec-Gen).

The first meeting of the Joint Organising Committee

was held in Yueyang, on 11 December 1993, by which

time I had become the IDBF’s Acting President and Mason

Hung the Acting Sec-General.

During that weekend we made our first visit to the

regatta course on Nanhu Lake (South) and discussed in

outline many aspects of organising the event, including the

racing classes and schedule, rules and regulations and the

appointment of the race officials for the event.

Regarding the Race Officials it was agreed that each

position would have both an IDBF and CDBA appointed

Race Official to ensure efficient communication and

effective officiating at the event.

David Blackley (Australia) was the Chairman of the

Race Officials Committee at that time and one of the local

organising committee people was Zhou Li Wei (Joe) who

became a long time friend and was appointed as the Chief

Official on the Chinese side for the Championships and the

next year Mike Thomas was appointed from the IDBF side.

During the site visit I was approached by a young

man who asked me what I thought of his light-weight

wooden dragon boat that he was standing next to. I said

it was a fine looking boat and after the obligatory

photograph together, I walked on.

A few years later I received an email from an IDBF

Official asking me why I had approved a wooden dragon

boat for the IDBF, which of course I never had.

I was then sent a promotional leaflet from Champion

Dragon Boats in China, with a picture of me standing

beside the wooden boat in Yueyang, with the young man,

who turned out to be the owner of Champion Boats (Mr

Luo) and a banner headline saying “IDBF President

approves Champion Dragon Boat”.

That picture opportunity in Yueyang, was the start of

what proved to be a beneficial partnership between

Champion Boats and the IDBF and another long lasting

friendship between myself and Mr Luo, who became

known as “Mr Sorry, Sorry” as these were his first words

in English, when I reminded him of our very first meeting.

Over the next nine months through telephone

conversations and faxed correspondence, more

details were discussed and agreed, the Championships

dates confirmed by the June 1994 IDBF Congress and

Information Bulletin No.1 sent out to the IDBF Members.

A further trip to China over the weekend 17-18 th

September 1994 covered in depth the detail of the

Championship, such as, hosting, accommodation and

travel arrangements for the Teams; the technical

organisation, course requirements, boats, crew facilities

etc and support services such as publicity and marketing.

Everything was now in place and the countdown to

the 1 st IDBF World Championships began.



The decision to hold the World Champs after the HKIR

proved to be the right one, as many Teams decided to

go to the HKIR, not only to test themselves in high level

racing before the World Champs but to take advantage of

the generous hosting package offered by the Hong Kong

Tourist Association (HKTA), which coupled with that

offered by the Yueyang organisation, meant that Teams

could attend both events at a minimum cost to the

paddlers.

One of the Teams that went to Hong Kong before the

World Champs, was the Premier A Crew from the British

Team. David Bangs was the crew’s coach. The paddlers

mainly came from the Amathus DBC based in Liverpool.

Dave recalls. “In June 1995 I had the honour of

leading a team from Great Britain to take part in the

first IDBF World Championships in China, a week

after the well known Hong Kong races”.

“The initial idea had been to produce a squad of

paddlers from four British clubs but one by one they

pulled out for a variety of reasons and in the end I

formed the core of a crew from my own club Amathus

none of whom had ever been to China before.

We were joined by some paddlers from a British

Nomad crew who had been taking part in the Hong

Kong Races and came across to join us. They added

some very useful firepower as the top countries were

taking part in this first IDBF World Dragon Boat

Championships; the competition was going to be

fierce”.

However, the decision to race in the Hong Kong Races

before going to the World Champs, created a travel

choice for those Teams going to Yueyang, because there

was not an airport in Yueyang. The nearest were

Changsha Airport in Hunan and Wuhan Airport in Huebei,

plus a relatively long journey by coach or train to Yueyang

from either airport. There was only one evening flight from

Hong Kong to Changsha and so most of those who went to

Hong Kong decided to travel to Yueyang by the less

expensive coach and train journey from Hong Kong, via

Shenzhen and Changsha. This turned out to be a journey

of a life-time and one to be remembered, as remembered

by some of the ‘survivors’ of that protracted journey.

Bob McNamara’s, Philadelphia crew formed the core of

the Men’s Premier Open Crew with the addition of four

guys from California, one paddler from Virginia and a top

marathon paddler from Nebraska.

Bob recalls “The Hong Kong festival was the

weekend before the Worlds and we raced there as a

warm up. This would be the first time the team

paddled together. We made the final, impressed no

one with a 6 th place finish but did get some valuable

time in the boat together while washing away the jet

lag. On the Monday after the HK race we took a bus

into China and were awed at the site of the huge train

station at Shenzhen.

The train ride to Changsha was to be overnight, 15

hours in a “hard sleeper” car with 6 bunks to a slot.

We departed Shenzhen at 615 pm for a trip into the

heart of China. The bunks were too short for the big

guys and the slots wide open. Arriving in Changsha

poorly rested we had some doubts about our sanity.

After a 3-hour shuttle ride we arrived in the city of

Yueyang.

Team GB, who were booked on the same train as

Team USA and South Africa, had a different

experience.

Dave Bangs recalls. “I had been to China a few

times before and knew that this event was going to

be full of unexpected surprises so although our flight

was interesting, the real journey started as we were

crammed into double Decker buses and taken to the

train station at Shenzhen. After some negotiations

had taken place due to altered bookings we headed

to the train, it appeared to be the longest train I had

seen together with what appeared to be a massive

sea of people

It was a stressful hour before I had managed to

confirm that all my crew had made it onto the train.

The journey was about 16 hours overnight in very

small bunks. As it turned out we had the reserved

top bunks that for some reason were considered

more comfortable but were not and very little sleep

was had. We were very pleased to eventually arrive

buzzing with the excitement of the experience and

looking forward to the hotel.

Julie Doyle with the Great Britain Team remembers

that due to the long time taken going through the Hong

Kong Shenzhen border crossing and having to load

everyone and all the luggage on and off the doubledecker

buses from Hong Kong twice”.

Julie recalls “Then there was the tour guide we

picked up at the station who stayed with us for the

trip and we each paid him £1 = £100, was a lot of

money for him. We also picked up another Chinese

man who just followed us all the time and didn't

speak. I think he was our minder. Then the sleeper

train hit a buffalo or similar and a brick came flying

through the window in the middle of the night. Also

the hole in the floor of the train for the toilets”.

The train journey that Dave and Julie recalled was

indeed one to remember. Both the British and South

African Teams along with Race Officials going from Hong

Kong to Yueyang and Nelly a VIP Councillor from the

Nottinghamshire County Council, had been booked on to

the same train as Team USA, as recommended by the

Yueyang people.



Oliver Cock the British BDA President was also with

us and he struck up a friendship with Councillor Nelly and

looked after her during the trip. (Nelly was instrumental in

getting the County Council to support the 3 rd World

Championships, held in Nottingham in 1999.

I had made the arrangements with the Hong Kong bus

company for a number of their double decked buses to

take everyone to the Shenzhen Railway Station.

Having checked and double-checked with the bus

company over the number of passengers and the amount

of luggage we had, the time to load and unload the buses

and pass through the border checks into China, we set off

from Hong Kong assured by the bus company that we had

plenty of time.

Not so, when we got to the border there was initially only

one channel open to check us, our documents and

luggage through customs and back onto the buses. It took

ages and then the bus would not take us to the front of the

station but dropped us off (finally) in a side street and we

had to walk along the road and over a foot bridge to get

inside the station, watching as we walked our train to

Changsha depart with Team USA on board.

Nearly 150 people stranded in Shenzhen at night, was

not in the travel plan but worse was to come, as when I

went to the ticket office to enquire when the next train to

Changsha was, the answer was – tomorrow.

As I walked away a voice said “Can I help you, what is

the problem”. I turned around to face a young Chinese

man, who spoke excellent English and explained our

situation to him.

He went back to the ticket office and returned to tell me

that there was a train to Guangzhou that evening and then

an overnight connection to Yueyang.

However, our tickets to Changsha were not valid for

any other journey and we would have to buy new ones to

Guangzhou then others from there to Yueyang.

This was great news, especially as the Yueyang

organisation had said there were no trains to Yueyang

from Guangzhou but there was. (Perhaps there had been a

change to the train time-tables but we never got a

satisfactory answer about that and had we known in

advance about the Guangzhou train I would never have

booked the buses to Shenzhen but booked the express

train directly from Hong Kong).

So a quick whip round produced the necessary money

for the train to Guangzhou and my new friend offered to

travel with us to Guangzhou to help with changing trains

there and that turned out to be a blessing.

With a feeling of great relief we set off on our new train

trip, knowing that we would be in Yueyang the next

morning without the added coach journey from Changsha,

which Bob and Team USA endured.

However, when we arrived in Guangzhou the ticket

office was closed but our ‘Guardian Angel’ got us to the

right platform and persuaded the train guard to issue us

tickets on the train, including booking all the soft and hard

sleeper bunks available.

Wonderful except that when Nicola Osse, the Team

South Africa Manager offered to pay for the tickets with

USD Travellers Cheques, the Guard said she had to

handover her passport to him or stay in Guangzhou

overnight and go to the bank in the morning, in case the

check bounced. A tricky situation but we were not going to

agree to either.

Another three way ‘discussion’ took place with the

Guard and with a little more money changing hands, the

travellers cheques were accepted and we were all on the

train.

At this point I asked our ‘Guardian Angel’ if he was free by

any chance for the next week or so, to go to Yueyang with

us and act as our official interpreter.

He was delighted to do so and so was I and thus he

joined us on our night train ride. A journey that turned out

to be comfortable in the soft sleepers and acceptable in the

hard sleeper class.

Some of the GB Team spent the journey sitting and talking

with the Chinese passengers and sipping a beer or two on

the way. We arrived relatively refreshed and highly

relieved in Yueyang, to be met by a surprised welcoming

party who had expected us to arrive by coach.

There were now 14 IDBF Member Nations and

Territories present namely, Australia, Canada, China,

Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy,

Japan, Macau, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and

the USA, with a total of 814 athletes, were all ready to

contest the 1 st World Championships, for Premier Open,

Women and Mixed crews, racing in three race distances

(250m, 500m and 1000m) over four racing days from the

15 th June 1995.

The lake where the racing was held was an off-shoot of

the Yangtze River and a natural inlet had been converted

into a regatta course, built in a south to north direction over

2600 metres long and 108 metres wide. Six Racing Lanes

of 18m wide or eight (8) of 13.5m wide were available and

all racing lanes had automatic starting gates and computer

operated timing devices at the start and finish points of the

racing lanes were also set up.



Bob McNamara recalls, “We didn’t expect much at

the race site as the promised athlete’s village never

materialized but the race course was spectacular.

Dongting Lake was an off shoot of the Yangtze River

and a natural inlet had been converted into an

awesome race course.

The racing boats themselves were much lighter and

longer than the teak boats we had been using. The

weather was hot and oppressive and the food was not

what we were used to and by the end of the racing most

of us had lost several pounds”.

Dave Bangs remembers On arrival our first job was to

send out a search party for umbrellas as the rain was full

on but this did not dampen our spirits as we were looking

forward to seeing the race site. The site was amazing,

with a full regatta course and grandstands around it.

We were well received by the various Chinese officials at

the race site and were soon on the water for some

practice time with the boats and although the boats

worked well the helming oars were attached with a

strange socket system that had a habit of jamming at

inopportune moments much to the surprise of the helm

Bob McNamara “Wednesday was the final practice day and that evening we bussed to the race site for the opening

ceremonies. There was a huge set of grandstands alongside the course and another smaller set at the end where the

various teams were set up. When we arrived the place was surrounded by thousands of people and Chinese security

officers split the crowd ahead of us so we could get into the venue”.

“This was no ordinary opening ceremony. Instead of the simple lion dance we were used to from previous races this

one featured a water parade of every kind of dragon boat imaginable. There were dragon boats with three tiers of

paddlers, steersman 15 feet off the water and all kinds of costumes on the paddlers and, of course, pyrotechnics.

Simply, the best ceremony any of us had ever seen”.

Dave Bangs. The opening ceremony was one of the best I have ever attended; thousands of people were present,

jammed up to the security fences and on all sides on the lake. The eye dotting ceremony had all the crews on the water

with their flags flying and a parade of Dragon Boats of all kinds most of which had never been seen before by the crew

members. The sheer size of the boats, the flamboyance of their costumes and the noises made by their huge crews was

amazing, I shall never forget these sights nor will my crew members

Traditional Dragon Boat at the Opening of the 1 st IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships, Yueyang, China 1995.

Photo: Courtesy of Claudio Schermi

It was indeed a most spectacular opening ceremony, with over 90,000 spectators, with millions more watching it live

on TV. The full meaning and force of dragon boating hit all of us from the western world, I am sure, as we watched in awe

the majesty of the traditional boats that passed our eyes. We also witnessed thousands of white doves being released

lots of large flags and huge balloons in the shape of dragons and many other types flying high into the evening sky too.

Manfred Russ, the EDBF Vice-Chairman, at the time, who was on the train ride from Hong Kong, took a fancy to some

of the flags and balloons and decided he wanted to buy some for his own dragon boat festival in Germany. He managed

to persuade the Chinese to part with a fair few, some of them large and his pile of luggage was a sight to behold on the

return journey. How he got them back to Germany with him, via Hong Kong, must be another tale to tell.





The main grandstand that Bob remembers was part During the Opening Ceremony it was displayed in

of a 40,000 seat spectators area, , in which the main

all its glory in the reviewing stand. Oliver made me the

Grandstand could accommodate 10,000 people, which

custodian of the Cup and told me to look after it for as

included a reviewing stand that could accommodate 270.

long as I was involved in Dragon Boating. Between

World Champs, it has resided in my home ever since.

As the then newly elected IDBF Executive President, I

had the honour to declare the 1 st World Championships

Oliver, a long time friend from the British Canoe

Open from that Grandstand, with live television coverage.

Union, had been attributed with creating Canoe

Polo, , when around 1947 whilst kayaking on the River

Oliver Cock, then in his mid 80s, had donated a

Thames he picked up a floating tennis ball and threw it

perpetual Gold Plated Trophy, made especially for him in

at a companion, who promptly threw it back.

Hong Kong, which he wanted to go to the top Team in the

Premier Division.

That gave Oliver the idea for a new activity and

Canoe Polo was born. . It eventually became an ICF

We had named this ‘The Nations Cup’ and Oliver had

discipline and held its 1st World Championships in

made the long journey to the Championship, to see his

1994, won by Australia.

Cup presented for the first time.

As for the actual racing, Bob MCNamara remembers the USA Premier er Open Crews 1000m race in detail.

Bob recalls. “The first day of racing was the 1000 meters on Thursday. . We were in the third heat of three.

China ‘A’ easily won our heat. We came in second a full boat length ahead of New Zealand.

China ‘B’ and Indonesia won the other two heats and to our surprise we had the fifth fastest overall time only

3/10th of a second behind the Germans.

In the Repechage we cruised to an easy victory over Australia placing us in the semi-finals”. The bad news was

that we had China ‘B’ and Indonesia, two heat winners, in our semi-final but the good news was that the next

fastest team behind us was Australia”.

The strategy in the oppressive heat was quite clear; ; race for third and save our energy for the final. China B

and Indonesia blew off the line and we quickly settled into third ahead of Australia.

With Italy and Great Britain falling out of the picture, we were able to back off the power finishing a comfortable two

lengths ahead of Australia. The other semi-final was easily won by China ‘A’, with New Zealand, Germany and

Canada taking second to fourth places, with all three of them making it to the final”.

“The results board from the semi-finals indicated that our qualifying time was the slowest boat in the field. We

were relegated to the far outside lane sitting next to Germany. The talk before the race was that the USA had no

chance. Little did they know that we had raced for place in the semi-final so had some energy in reserve. While

sitting on the water waiting for the Final, Indonesia did a racing start across our bow and jaws were dropping at

their precision 110 strokes per minute. A couple of jokes were needed to break the tension”.

“Chris Enoch was on the drum seat instead of paddling as we

felt his energy would work better for us there. We knew that if

anybody could fire us up it would be Enoch.

Our start was one to forget, Langer snapped his paddle three

strokes into the race and we fell behind Germany and the rest

of the field in the first 100m. We knew Germany was a medal

contender and that we had to at least beat them for any chance

to be on the podium.

In the middle 500m we began to slowly creep up on the German

crew and as we reached the final 150 meters Enoch was going nuts

USA, Boat 2, at the Finish Line. Pic: Bob McNamara.

yelling “two seats to a medal”.

The boat surged past Germany and when Chris looked to his right at the finish he said “maybe second”.

That of course would mean that we would’ve beaten Indonesia something we could not comprehend at that

moment. After what seemed to be an hour of waiting it became official, we had the silver!

We had beaten

Indonesia by 6/100 of a second and were a full second ahead of fourth placed Germany.

The Germans later showed their class by rising and saluting our team when we entered the shared dining room

in our hotel. We had the opportunity to return the favour later when they won a bronze medal”.





“The medal ceremony was quite cool, held on a huge platform overlooking the course. It was an honour to stand

up there with the gold medal winners China ‘A’ and the legendary Indonesia team who would go on to win silver in the

shorter distances. Many of the team had paddled in the Philadelphia crew since the 80s when we first started racing

in Hong Kong. Bob and Peggy Morro were along as officials and team leaders with w Jim Brody.

It was a memorable trip both on and off the water setting a high bar for future ventures of Team USA. The

venue and opening ceremony were phenomenal but to come from behind silver is the enduring memory”.

Picture credit, Bob McNamara. 1000m Final – after the Finish, exhausted but celebrating.

Great Britain were in the same 1000m Heat (and Semi-final) as Team USA and Dave Bangs remembers it well.

Dave recalls. At the start of our first race we lined up against China ‘A’. My crew

was quite young and not yet battle hard so this was about gaining as much as

possible from the experience, when would we be racing China A again in China?

The race went as expected but it was the start of a huge learning curve for both

myself and my crew. As the racing went on we had some problems to solve, our helm

Frank Murray fell ill and the helming landed on my doorstep, which gave me a chance

to watch the races from a different viewpoint

.

“The racing was fast and furious, the expected crews fought it out for the top slots,

there was even some controversy when the China ‘B’ Crew tried to load a new dry

boat for a final which led, shall we say to some passionate discussion before they

returned to their allotted boat. All the while we battled and a

learned how to deal with this type of competition. On the

plus side we managed to achieve a 9 th place in the event and were ahead of the Royal Marines Crew, which had

arrived last minute as GB ‘B’. To do better than the ‘Marines, was one of our objectives.

“A great memory of mine was a meeting I had with the Head Chinese Coach who showed how all the muscles

of the body were involved in paddling but above all he advocated that we used our

brains, intelligent paddling has became my mantra ”.

“There was a joy about the whole experience and it set us on a learning curve

which I believe allowed and inspired me to go to lead a team which won Gold four

years later at the 3rd World Championships, held in Nottingham in 1999. The event

was amazing and has memories which will be in the minds of my crew forever and are

still motivating many of us to continue in this incredible sport”. GB Crew Picture credit

CDBA. Top left – Dave Bangs, Helming. With the Union Flag – Karl, who cause a panic after

the event when he lost his passport.

IDBF NATIONS CUP

The Nations Cup, Dragon Boat Sport’s ultimate sporting trophy, was donated by Oliver J Cock

MBE, the Founding President of the British Dragon Boat Racing Association (BDA) for the

National or Representative Team scoring the highest combined points total, at a World Nations

Championship, in the Premier Division races over 200m, 500m & 1000m, in the Open, Women

and Mixed Racing Classes. This impressive gold plated trophy is 71cm in height.

Dragon Boating – More than a Sport, a tradition.

Page 16 of 36


Also at the 1 st World Championship, leading Team Italy, was Team Manager

Claudio Schermi and their Team Coach Antonio De Lucia.

Today Claudio is the President of the European Dragon Boat Federation

(EDBF) and Antonio is the President of the Italian DBF and Chair of the EDBF

Medical Commission. Pictured right, ‘young’ Claudio and left mid picture Oliver Cock.

Pictured left

Team Italy with

Antonio in the back

row, third from the left

in sun-glasses.

Photo credits Claudio Schermi

Another Country at the Championships was Japan and

Makoto Shubo a Team Official and still involved in the

organisation of the Sport in Japan, as well as being a long

serving IDBF Race Official, remembers participating in many

international events around that year, such as 1st ADBF

Championship in 1994 and the dragon boat race in Guangzhou

in 1995.

Makoto has many memories mixed up in his mind, from that

year but remembers that for the 1st IDBF Championship in Yueyang, Team Japan were able to take connecting flights

from Osaka to Yueyang and a flight to Shengzhen on the way back home to stay in Hong Kong as tourists, for a few days.

After four days of great racing in very hot conditions the 1 st IDBF World Championships reached their high charged

conclusion. As expected China became the first holders of the ‘Nations Cup’ and topped the Medals Table, winning all 8

Gold Medals on offer.

The spectator figures averaged over 50,000 per day and 100,000 were at the Closing Ceremony on the Sunday. In the

evening following a dinner for the Race Officials and Team Manager, there was an International Celebration Party for the

Teams with a cultural programme of traditional dancing, songs and entertainment. National television broadcast at least 2

hours of coverage each day, with highlights in the evenings.

Medals Table Gold Silver Bronze Total

China 8 - - 08

Canada - 5 - 05

Indonesia - 2 1 03

USA - 1 - 01

Germany - - 3 03

New Zealand - - 3 03

Sweden - - 1 01

奖牌榜

金牌银牌铜牌总数

中国 8 - - 08

加拿大 - 5 - 05

印度尼西亚 - 2 1 03

美国 - 1 - 01

德国 - 3 - 03

新西兰 - - 3 03

瑞典 - - 1 01

After an exhausting, exhilarating and memorable week for all concerned, it was time for the Teams to return home.

Some stayed on in China and went touring and others used the opportunity of being in the Far East to go further afield.

The majority of those who had travelled from Hong Kong to Yueyang returned the same way but via the ‘day train’ to

Guangzhou and then direct to Hong Kong this time and not the rail and coach journey via Shenzhen.

Sitting in the so called dinning-car on the train to Guangzhou, with our ‘Guardian Angel’ I noticed that a serious

looking, heavy set man further down the carriage was looking at me intensely, talking to his companion and pointing to me.

That unsettled me a bit so I asked the ‘Guardian Angel’ (one day I will remember his name) if he would find out what it was

all about.

This he duly did and when he came back, with a big smile on his face, he announced that I was now famous in China,

as my picture was in all the newspapers from the Opening Ceremony at the World Champs, with the story of what the

Championships were all about. The serious looking man just happened to be reading one of the newspapers, when he

looked up, saw me sitting there and realised that the picture was of me. He merely wanted me to autograph the

newspaper picture for him, which I was happy and somewhat relieved to do.

Dragon Boating – More than a Sport, a tradition. Page 17 of 36


The remainder of the train journey was uneventful one of rest and reflection until we were about to go through

Chinese customs In Guangzhou and onto our connecting train for Hong Kong. I was towards the back of the queue when I

heard a stressed out and Karl from Liverpool, telling Dave Bangs that he had lost his passport or had it stolen.

Now Karl had a bit of a reputation for mislaying things

but losing your passport or worse having it stolen, was a

whole different issue.

I tried to calm him down and asked him in which pocket he

kept his passport and where had he been since we left the

train in Guangzhou.

He replied that he kept it in his back pocket and was sure

that he had it when we got off the Gunagzhou train. The

only place he had been to since was the station toilets.

I set off immediately for the men’s toilets area, as wallet

type things dropping out of trouser pockets when sitting

down in a toilet is an occupational hazard.

I arrived at the toilet just in time to see the toilet cleaner

about to drop what looked like a British Passport into her

rubbish bin or maybe her own pocket, it was difficult to see.

I was not sure which, so I rushed over to her, grabbed the

document, saw it was indeed Karl’s passport and headed

back to where most of Team GB had just cleared the

customs area, without Karl.

Together with the remaining paddlers, a very relieved Karl

and I went through customs, just in time to catch the

express train to Hong Kong, where after a week of Chinese

food, many of us headed straight for a Big Mac meal in a

Kowloon MacDonalds. (Some people had two).

Dave Bang remembers that final throw of our journey’s

dice too and recalls:-

“The memories go on, even to the journey home when

Mike Haslam happened to find the passport of one of our

crew members who had lost it in the train station.

The relief on Karl’s face when he realized he was not

going to be left behind in China by himself will

always be with me”.

As with all IDBF Championships a post event report on

the event was produced and in it, I wrote :-

“The 1 st IDBF World Championships were in general

very well organised by the various Chinese

Organising Committees. The technical facilities were

good and the mechanical starting equipment and

starting procedure excellent. The races were

conducted extremely well by a combination of IDBF

Race Officials and local officials, who worked together

well to produce a good technical regatta. Despite the

lack of photo finish equipment, all the races were fairly

judged and recorded through a combination of

electronic and manual timing systems, backed up with a

video camera, linked to closed circuit television.

The Administrative Organisation was good but

suffered from a lack of co-ordination and attention to

detail, in some areas, particularly where the general

welfare of the competitors was concerned. For

example, spartan rest areas, basic packed lunches and

a lack of medical facilities. However, these shortcomings

were more than compensated for by the

friendliness of the people working for the Organisation,

the willingness of the hoteliers to try and correct any

shortcomings and the hospitality of the Chinese people.

In concluding the IDBF Report I wrote that the thanks

of the IDBF Council was extended to the Yue Yang

Organising Committee, who had worked extremely

hard to stage a World Championship standard event of

quality and in this they had succeeded admirably. Any

shortcomings were minor in effect and were to be

expected in an event of such a nature being held for

the first time.

I also said that I would be producing for the IDBF, a World

Championships Organisers Handbook, for use in the

planning and execution of future World Championships,

which would enable organisers to avoid most of the pitfalls

experienced at the 1 st World Championships.

Thus the curtains were drawn on Yueyang and we began to look towards Hong Kong where the 2 nd World

Championships were scheduled to be held in June 1997 but that is another story.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this extract from my forthcoming book. It is my intention to publish

‘Racing the Dragon’ by the end of 2020 as an Ebook but also in hard copy. I would also like to serialize the

book electronically, in the coming months.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the book in any of the formats shown below then please drop me

an email at mikehaslam@aol.com and I will reserve you a copy. Prices will be kept low, dependent on the type of

copy- ranging from approx 1 Usd to 25 Usd. Mike MacKeddie-Haslam. IDBF Founder & Honorary President

*************************

Racing the Dragon, the first 40 Years – Publishing Format

Serialized Copy – text only

EBook electronic Copy – text plus limited pictures

Printed Hard Copy – fully illustrated pictures



TALKING POINT 1.

WHO IS THE IDBF COUNCIL ?

By Mike MacKeddie-Haslam

Who is the IDBF Council ? was a question recently asked of the IDBF in response to their decision to

cancel the 2020 CCWC. The reply, presumably from the IDBF Secretariat, was that:-

“The IDBF Council consists of the IDBF Executive, Commission Chairs and five Continental Dragon

Boat Federations and two associate organisations. They represent athletes and national federations

who are members of IDBF. The Council comprises of 27 members. The Commission Chairs represent:

Paradragons, Athletes, Women, Youth, Sport for All, Entourage, Competition & Technical, Marketing &

Media, Culture and Heritage, and Medical. The Continental Dragon Boat Federations comprise of

European Dragon Boat Federation, Pan America, Asia, and Oceania. The associate members are the

International Ice Dragon Boat Federation and the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission.

This answer only tells us the composition of the IDBF Council but not who the people are on the Council or

which IDBF Member they come from. Listed below are the names of the Council Members, as far as I know and

the Council’s mandate and powers. A later article will cover the roles of the individual Council Members

IDBF Executive Committee. (Council Voting Members – Elected by the IDBF Congress).

President - Mike Thomas (Gt Britain) - serving until 2023. 2 nd term (ex officio Chair holder)

Sec-General - Peter Tang (Macau) - serving until 2021 1 st term (ex officio Member)

Treasurer - Alan Van Caubergh (Netherlands) - serving until 2023. 3 rd term. (ex officio Member)

1 st Vice-Pres - Raymond Ma (Hong Kong) - serving until 2021. 2 nd term (ex officio Member)

2 nd Vice-Pres - Matt Smith (Canada) - serving until 2021. 2 nd term (ex officio Member)

3 rd Vice-Pres - Peter Jarosi (Hungary) - serving until 2021. 1 st term (ex officio Member)

4 th Vice-Pres - Julie Doyle (Ireland) - serving until 2021. 1 st term (ex officio Member)

5 th Vice-Pres - Fan Guangsheng (China) - serving until 2021. 1 st term (ex officio Member)

Dep Treas - Loretta Lewis (Australia) - serving until 2021. 1 st term (ex officio Member)

Dep Sec-Gen - Yu Hanqiao (China)

- (appointed, non-voting)

IDBF Commissions. (Council Voting Members - Elected by the IDBF Congress). ).

Athletes - Sue Holloway (Canada) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chair & Exe Com Member)

Comp & Tech - Melanie Cantwell (Australia) - serving until 2023 2 nd term (Chair & Exe Com Member)

Culture - He Yi (China) - serving until 2023 1 st term (Chairholder)

Entourage - Barbara Michaels (USA) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chairholder)

Marketing - Belinda Chung (Australia) - serving until 2023 1 st term (Chairholder)

Medical - Bridget Walter (Swizerland) - serving until 2023 1 st term (Chairholder)

Paradragons - Nigel Bedford (Gt Britain) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chairholder)

Sport for All - Tom Joseph (India) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chairholder)

Women - Ellen Law (USA) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chairholder)

Youth - Patrick Cosgrove (Gt Britain) - serving until 2021 1 st term (Chairholder)

Continental Representatives (Nominated).

Asia - Yu Hanqiao (China) - voting Council Member (ADBF President)

Africa - Abdul Edross (South Africa) - voting Council Member (DBFA President)

Europe - Claudio Schermi (Italy) - voting Council Member (EDBF President)

Oceania - Noel Anderton (New Zealand) - voting Council Member (Oceania President)

Pan Am - Franco Siu Chong (Trinidad & Tobago) - voting Council Member (DBFA President)

Associate Members (Nominated).

IBCPC - Meri Gibson (New Zealand) - voting Council Member (IBCPC President)

IIDBF - Luo Zhogyi (China) - voting Council Member (IIDBF President)

Ex officio Members (Appointed)

Presd of Hon - Madam Xiao Min (China) - voting Council Member from 2014

Hon Pres - Mike Mackeddie-Haslam (Gt Britain – IDBF Founder) from 2016 (non-voting)

Hon Pres - Madam Xiao Min (China) from 2014 (non-voting)

Hon Pres - ZHANG Faqianq (China) from 2009 (non-voting)

Hon Pres - LIU Ji (China) from 2002 (non-voting)Hon

Pres - LU Jin-Dong (China) from 2000 (non-voting)

Hon Pres - Robert Wilson (Hong Kong – IDBF Founding President) from 1995 (non-voting)



The IDBF Statues & Bye-Laws. The IDBF Statues lay down the organisational form of the IDBF, that is,

the ‘body’ of the IDBF and its constituent parts. The IDBF Bye-Laws lay down how the IDBF operates, the

‘muscles’ if you like, of the IDBF’s body. As such, the Bye-Laws, supplement, enhance and where necessary

clarify the intention of the IDBF Statutes. The Bye-Laws cannot replace the IDBF Statutes or change the

intention of or the meaning of or object of, a Statute.

What is the IDBF Council ?

In the IDBF Statutes it says that the

‘Administration’ of the IDBF shall consist of the IDBF

Congress and the Council and that the Congress

shall be the supreme authority of the IDBF. All the

activities of the Federation are subject to the control

of the Congress.

This makes the Congress of the IDBF Members

the highest authority in the IDBF and the

Members of the Council are honorary and not

employed office bearers.

The Statutes state that the Council Members shall

be elected for four (4) years by the Congress, with

the exception of the Continental Representatives’,

who are nominated by their Continental Federations’.

This means that the Council is effectively the

‘policy making body’ for the IDBF Congress who

have to approve or ratify policy decisions made by

the Council.

Composition of the Council. The IDBF Statues

state that the Council shall consist of an

Executive Committee, Continental Representatives

and the Chair-holders of the Specialist Commissions

and that the IDBF shall be ‘Managed’ by the

Executive Committee.

From 2017, the Executive Committee has consisted

of the IDBF President, five (5) Vice Presidents (one

always nominated by the Chinese Dragon Boat

Association); the Treasurer; and Deputy Treasurer;

the General Secretary; and the Chair-holders of the

Competition & Technical and the Athletes

Commissions’. (Previously there were four Vice-

Presidents and no Deputy Treasurer or Commission

Chair-holders on the Executive Committee).

The Executive Committee operates under the

direction of the IDBF President, with the

assistance of other Members of the Council, when

required and all decisions of the Council, Executive

Committee, the specialist Commissions and any

IDBF appointed groups shall be taken by a majority

vote of the members present.

What does the IDBF Council do ?

The duties and tasks of the Council, are to

achieve the Objects of the IDBF, as laid down in the

Statutes; to ensure that decisions of the Congress

are carried out and to ensure the Statutes; Bye-

Laws; Competition Regulations and the Rules of

Racing are complied with.

The Council is required to ensure the

maintenance of proper standards in the

organization of International Regattas and events

held under the authority of the IDBF and, after

consultation with the appropriate IDBF Member

Associations, appoint the members of the various

Commissions, in accordance with proposed names

from each Commission’s Chair holder.

The Council is also tasked with approving the

IDBF Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing

and to draw up IDBF Bye- laws made under the

Statutes, which includes the duties of the individual

members of the Council and of the IDBF

Commissions. An IDBF Member can appeal against

such decisions taken by the Council, at the

Congress following any such decision being made.

Role of the IDBF Executive Committee. Within its

remit of being a non-policy making group, within the

Council, the Executive Committee is tasked with the

‘administration and financial management’ of the

IDBF and for this may establish administrative

offices with paid staff. The Statutes also require the

Executive Committee to keep the IDBF Members

informed of the affairs of the Federation, including

preparing and issuing convening notices for IDBF

Member’s Congresses.

As the ‘Management Arm’ of the IDBF Council

and Congress, the Executive Committee has,

amongst other things, to ensure that the duties

assigned to individual members of the Council and

the various Commissions are properly carried out

and to ensure that the IDBF is represented by one

of its Presidents’, or Executive Committee

Members.

The Executive Committee may, within its Council

remit, take any decisions appropriate to the

circumstances, in the interests of the sport of Dragon

Boat Racing and impose any necessary penalties

against club officials, or competitors who during an

International Regatta are guilty of any breach of the

Competition Regulations or Rules of Racing or who

refuse to conform to instructions given, or behave in

an improper manner or utter abusive criticism.

At a Championship Regatta, penalties may be

imposed by the Executive Committee having heard

the evidence of all concerned. Members may appeal

against such Executive Committee decisions, at the

Congress following any such decision being made.

The Executive Committee, is empowered under

the IDBF Statutes, to interpret and give rulings on

the Statutes; Bye-Laws: Competition Regulations

and Rules of Racing and where necessary give

rulings on disputes regarding the provisions of the

IDBF Statutes; Bye-Laws; Regulations and Rules.

There is no appeal against any such interpretation or

decision.



The IDBF President. In the IDBF Bye-Laws the

roles of all the Council Members are shown,

(President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General and

Treasurer) as well as the IDBF Commissions and the

Continental Representatives. In this article, the role

of the IDBF President, as detailed in the IDBF Bye-

Laws is covered.

The IDBF Bye-Laws say that the IDBF President

as the Leader of the Congress, shall take the Chair

at the IDBF Member’s Congress and shall ensure

that the Objects of the Federation are pursued at all

times; that the Statutes of the Federation are

complied with and that the IDBF Bye-Laws,

Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing are

adhered to.

The President is required to call meetings of the

Executive Committee at regular intervals and to

ensure that the Council meets at least annually.

The President, as the prime representative of the

Federation in its relations with national and

international sports organizations, is responsible for

ensuring that the interests of the IDBF are fully

represented with outside agencies

It is incumbent upon the President to guide and

control the entire work of the IDBF; attend multisports

games; World Championship Regattas and

other important IDBF competitions. The President

presides as the Chair of the Jury at IDBF World

Championship Regattas

IDBF Council Statistics.

At the present time, there are 27 Voting Members

on the IDBF Council. By geographical breakdown

they are from, Asia 8, Europe 8, Australasia 5, North

America 5 and Africa 1.

A look at the nine voting members on the Executive

Committee, shows that they are from nine different

IDBF Members but only two of them are women.

On the other hand, of the ten (10) Chair-holders of

the IDBF Commissions’, from seven (7) different

IDBF Members, six (6) are women and four (4) are

men. The five (5) Continental Reps are all men.

It is interesting to note that of the nineteen (19)

Voting Council Members, on the IDBF Executive

Committee and Commissions (of which eight (8) are

women) twelve (12) of them come from just five (5)

IDBF Members, namely Australia, Canada, China,

Great Britain and the USA, the ‘Big Five’, which

means (leaving the Continental Representatives to

one side) that just seven (7) other IDBF Members

are represented on the Council.

Is this a balanced representation, on the Council,

of the 74 Members the IDBF presently has and is the

gender balance representative of the ratio between

Men and Women participating in Dragon Boat Sport

as a whole ?

The IDBF’s Governance. It is clear from the

IDBF Statues that the IDBF Council is a ‘policy

making body’ and the Executive Committee is the

Council’s administrative and management arm.

This system has not fundamentally changed

since the IDBF’s formation in 1991 but as the

IDBF has developed and the number of Members

and Continental Federations has increased, so too

has the number of people on the IDBF Council.

However, the representation spread on the Council

has pretty much remained the same, with the ‘big

five’ holding most of the key positions in the IDBF

and having the major voting power too.

The Executive Committee has also been

expanded in the last 4 years but is still mainly

composed of people from the ‘big five’.

With the benefit of modern technology, particularly

the Internet, Skype, Zoom and the WhatsApp, and

WeChat type of systems, it is now possible for the

Executive Committee to talk ‘face to face’ as

individuals and meet as a group on-line, frequently,

making it easy to move away from their core role of

management and take on more of the IDBF

Council’s policy role.

The early cancellation of the 12 th Club Crew

World Championships, is an example of the IT

governance system in operation.

Here the cancellation was really decided on by the

Executive Committee, with the remaining members

of the Council only being involved at the end, to add

their vote to that of the Executive Committee’s.

This move to a more policy making, rather than

management role for the Executive Committee, can

potentially result in the larger Council, which is only

required to meet annually, becoming more of a

‘rubber stamping’ body for policy decisions made by

the IDBF Executive Committee, between the IDBF

Members Congresses.

Is this a more efficient way of governance or too

much power concentrated in the hands of too few,

like minded people. Much food for thought there.

In the brave new world, post COVID-19, it will be

interesting to see if the IDBF Members want to keep

the traditional systems of governance enshrined in

the IDBF Statutes or through the use of IT systems

become more directly involved in the decision

making processes of the IDBF and its ‘day to day’

management.

The 2021 IDBF Members Congress in Hong

Kong, marking the 30 th Anniversary of the IDBF’s

Foundation, will be the time to see if the IDBF

Members are happy to remain on the sidelines or

want to flex their muscles and take the IDBF forward

into the next 30 years of Dragon Boat Sport, using IT

governance systems in a variety of different



THE ALLIANCE OF INDEPENDENT RECOGNISED MEMBERS OF SPORT

The Alliance of Independent recognised Members of

Sport (AIMS) was founded in 2012 by the 21 non-IOC

recognised SportAccord members, which followed

meetings of the sports in 2010 and 2011 at the Sport

Accord Conventions, in Dubai and London, to discuss the

formation of such an alliance.

AIMS is the fourth group in what is now the Global

Association of International Sports Federations – GAISF,

alongside ARISF, ASOIF and AIOWF.

19 th April 2016 was historic day for sports with the

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between

the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and AIMS in

Lausanne.

By granting recognition to the AIMS, the IOC

acknowledged the role of AIMS and it’s valuable support

the Olympic Movement in the achievement of IOC

missions and goals; in the fields of the development of

sport and the promotion of sport in support of athletes.

The aims of AIMS are to strengthen each individual

sport, combine expertise, share knowledge and maintain

close cooperation with the International Olympic

Committee (IOC), so that the individual sport will achieve

official recognition from the IOC. Three AIMS member

federations in the past recent years have achieved this

goal.

AIMS works very closely with the 3 IOC recognised

groups of sports and also IOC recognised games such

as World Games, Universiade, TAFISA, Commonwealth

Games and on a continental level with the Olympic

Committee of Asia and so on for the benefits of all. The

exchange of culture, education and sport, and sport for all

is an important platform; along with it is cooperation with

WADA and using sport as a powerful tool to contribute to

society. AIMS is also in close cooperation with Peace and

Sport, Generations for Peace and UN Women.

AIMS is also an important partner of the SportAccord

Convention and the GAISF Annual General Assembly

which is held during each year’s convention. Important

AIMS meetings, however, are held and hosted by AIMS

Members, for example, the AIMS convention in Bangkok

was hosted by the International Federation of Muaythai

with speakers from IOC, IWGA, FISU, TAFISA and many

others; to share knowledge and information.

On a grassroots level, development is key, so

whenever there is an AIMS conference it includes a 1 days

workshop to introduce sports which are not as popular in

these countries to a wider range of sporting enthusiasts.

Currently, AIMS has 18 sporting international

federations as full members.





AIMS STANDS UNITED AGAINST RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION.

The AIMS President is the General Secretary of IFMA, Stephan Fox. AIMS is looking forward to a continued close

cooperation with the IOC to promote physical and sporting activities to develop society and to provide support to athletes

and sporting bodies. AIMS as an IOC umbrella organisation, stands united against racism and discrimination.

Respect is one of the pillars of sport and from the moment you enter the AIMS family, there is a zero-tolerance policy for

racial discrimination and harassment. Our IFs stand united and our athletes serve as role models for the youth. Every

stakeholder within the sport pyramid lives by this ideal.

The Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principle 6 states that “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this

Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation,

language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

In AIMS we encourage our athletes to express their views, and their unity towards these human rights. The value brought

to the community through sporting and cultural exchange, through an environment of respect, tolerance and

understanding of one another’s differences.

Let us resonate with the words of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre De Coubertin who said:

“We shall not have peace until the prejudices that now separate the different races are outlived. To attain this end, what

better means is there than to bring the youth of all countries periodically together. The AIMS family is working on a united

vision, opposing racism and social injustice. We will continue our efforts to promote equity and inclusion, and our hope

and inspiration for the youth of the world and a better, brighter future.

United Through Sports is

an alliance of many

organisations working

together through sports to

bring unity and peace to

an often-divided

world.

We would like to thank each and every one who has

contributed to the success of these alliances and

particularly to the IOC, SportAccord and AIMS for the

trust granted to us in coordinating this much needed

initiative.

We hope to continue working together as one, for and

with our youth. Some children have no choice. No voice.

But we do. In an often-divided world, sport is a crucial

element that brings people together both across and

within societies.

Sport is a language that people all over the world can

use as a vessel for communication functioning beyond

borders. We all understand that we are living in a world

filled with injustice, poverty and discrimination amongst

other challenges.

United Through Sports (UTS) brings people together

working towards unified goals and ending challenges

including poverty, discrimination and suffering.

We have a responsibility towards our future and we

must ensure that every child has an opportunity on the

playing field of life.

Our children should have the freedom to safely

participate in sport and a healthy lifestyle providing a solid

grounding from which to grow.

Regardless to friendship, rivalry, passion, motivation,

desire, inspiration, belonging, triumph and honour, what we

all strive for in everyday life is a chance and an

opportunity.

United Through Sports brought world-renowned

personnel to one round table in 2018 at the inauguration of

UTS during the SportAccord Convention in Bangkok.

The opening conference showed the importance of

working together as one and the three-day festival is an

affirmation of our youth looking to us not only for guidance

but reminding us all about our duties and the impact our

decisions have on their future.

United, we will continue our best efforts to make their

world as well as ours a better place.

Visit our website United Through Sports

Download our United Through Sport Newsletter

AIMS AND UTS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE.

Diversity and inclusion are some of the key elements of the IPC movement, aside from their core values of

determination, inspiration, courage and equality. We are proud and honoured to have the support of the IPC across our

events and initiatives.

It is vital that we support the IPC in all their mission towards social inclusion and there is much we can learn from

Parasports both on and off the field of play. UTS President Stephan Fox stated "With the current global state of affairs, it

is clear that now is a pivotal moment for the international sport community to not only stand united towards global

inclusion, but to also take action towards addressing how we can work together to ensure critical changes are made."

We would like to thank IPC President, Andrew Parsons, for his vision, his proactive approach towards greater

inclusion and empowering Para-athletes athletes towards sporting excellence. Thank you President for your continued support,

we are looking forward towards "bringing back better" together.


Page 23 of 36




The primary goal of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC) is to ensure that International Breast Cancer Survivors

(BCS) participation festivals and international competitive events are raising awareness about life after a diagnosis of and treatment for

breast cancer. The IBCPC is an Affiliated Commission of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF).

Articles courtesy of the IBCPC Newsletter “Keep Abreast with IBCPC”.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT – Meri

Meri Gibson.

It is encouraging to see countries that are re-emerging

out of the sadness and especially where we have member

teams who are well and truly on the path of recovery.

In Israel and Venice, Italy we have recently seen member

teams out enjoying paddling again, this is so very, very

heartening to see.

It is also equally as encouraging to see how quickly many

countries are moving to identify the genome and many

countries are now using plasma to treat the virus.

It is incredible to see the speed at which these

discoveries are happening and this puts us in great heart

particularly in light of some borders about to open and

potential travel across borders within a short period of time.

New Zealand had its first commercial flight land from

Los Angeles, a big milestone. No doubt those people on

board will go into isolation for two weeks, but that’s a

massive step towards borders opening.

The New Zealand government is in discussion to open

the borders between Australia and the Pacific in the

coming months, which is good news as we want to visit to

make sure of one of our newest teams in Fiji is doing okay.

Speaking of new teams, we have just added another new

country, Romania, taking our total number of countries to

thirty-one (31).

As I sit and write this update it is a beautiful sunny day in Christchurch, New Zealand

as we are in the very last day of autumn, with the first day of winter upon us. It is so lovely

to see the blue blue sky and to be able to enjoy this before it gets much cooler.

Well, what an incredible time it has been for so many of us as we learn to live in this new

world that has been brought about by COVID-19. We feel deeply for all of those who have

lost loved ones and have been unable to be with them in their hours of passing, or to

mourn them, that is certainly one of the greatest tragedies of this whole pandemic.

In terms of paddling opportunities we have all really

loved watching everyone on Zoom and videos enjoying

virtual meet ups and connecting possibly much more than

they would’ve had they been in their paddling season.

The PANAM Dragon Boat Federation’s Club Crew

Championships are due to be held in Panama in March

2021. The Federation wishes to include a breast-cancer

category and further in terms of inclusiveness they will

also look to add another breast-cancer category for

novice teams that have not previously competed in their

own countries national championships such as those in

Latin America.

We are really heartened by this and thank them hugely

for the opportunity they are creating for these teams to be

able to enjoy some racing, albeit at the end of their

paddling seasons.

As I close off I want to ask you to please take good

care of yourselves and your loved ones in what has been

a time of unrest and turmoil particularly most recently in

the US with the protesting and rioting.

It is so very important that we stay connected, that we

support each other, and that we hold each other in our

hearts with a great deal of love and compassion.

Take care, stay well and safe, and if the opportunity

arises, paddle hard.

Meri


Page 24 of 36

Dragon Sport News - Emagazine “An Independent Voice for Dragon Boat Sport” May 2020 Special Edition

There is some misunderstanding about any surplus

that may arise from these events. Generally whoever is

running the event hopes to break even at best. A surplus

may arise with a last minute sponsor or funding that

comes in unexpectedly.

If per chance there is a surplus then the local organizer

almost always gifts these funds to a cause that promotes

breast cancer awareness or research.

For instance in Peterborough, Canada, 2010, there

was an unexpected surplus and this was given to the

local hospital. In Sarasota 2014, there again was a

surplus and this was gifted to breast cancer dragon boat

outreach clinics and to create awareness locally in Miami.

IBCPC FESTIVALS

It is only two years from now until New Zealand 2022 and if

like many of us when you attend one of these IBCPC festivals

you think, wow, I could host that in my country. This is the time to

start thinking about what that might look like for you.

In 2022 we will hold a meeting for those interested in holding

the following IBCPC festival. This meeting will outline the bid

criteria as well as discuss the considerations that need to be

taken into account.

It is a very exciting event to be part of so please make sure

you keep an eye out for the session in 2022. If you would like

to know more please contact us.

THANK YOU ABU DHABI JETS

In Florence 2018, the event would have broken even had

the municipality (the main sponsor) not forgiven the debt for

the use of the various venues for the event. This

unexpected surplus has so far been used to fund breast

cancer clinics, raising awareness and mammogram tests

during Pink October.

With the latest crisis in Italy the organizers have also

gifted a ventilator to the hospital, along with10,000

masks and 4,000 tubes of special hand-cream to the

frontline nurses.

We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Festival

in 2022. Registration is starting next month! Paddles

up!

We were stunned to receive the email below from our member team the Abu Dhabi Jets. Once we had picked up our

dropped jaws off the floor, all we could manage to say was a really big WOW and a huge THANK YOU. This is

particularly generous as usually teams are asking us how they can fundraise, we all know it’s the one thing that brings

us together but can also drive us apart as it seems to be never ending. So to receive this gift is doubly generous.

18 May 2020 at 4:04:32 pm AEST To: "committee@ibcpc.com"

Subject: Abu Dhabi Jets donation

Hello my name is Dawn Hatzadony and I am one of the managers with the Abu Dhabi Jets All Womens Dragon

Boating Team. We paddle in pink for breast cancer survivors and those that have lost their battle.

We would like to offer you a monetary donation of 5000 AED. We admire your work in the community and your

diligent efforts to improve the world around us. We are honoured to present you with this contribution and love

the work you do for breast cancer.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Dawn Hatzadony

SHOPPING The IBCPC is very fortunate to have an exclusive

merchandise relationship with Hornet Water Sports. They have

some fantastic IBCPC branded merchandise for sale such as

paddles, seat pads, gloves, paddle bags and so on.

See IBCPC Merchandise


Dragon Sport News - Emagazine “The Independent Voice of Dragon Boat Sport” May 2020 Special Edition

TALKING POINT 2.

a Look At The Issues Of The Day

CANCELLED 12TH IDBF CLUB CREW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

An IDBF News communication was recently sent to all IDBF Members concerning the cancellation of the postponed 12 th

Club Crew World Championships – see https://www.dragonboat.sport/single-post/2020/05/06/FAQs-Decision-on-the-12th-IDBF-

Club-Crew-World-Championships-CCWC

For the benefit of DSN readers, the IDBFs Q’s & A’s, to that decision, are printed below, followed by some DSN

comments on the situation that has developed and thoughts on a CCWC for 2021.

IDBF 6 th May 2020. FAQs – Decision on the 12th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC)

Following the announcement regarding the decision on the 12th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Aixles-Bains

(France), a number of questions were asked by athletes via email and on social media. To help address

these questions, we have put together a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We hope that the FAQs

provide some clarity on the decisions made and understanding behind the complex situation brought on by COVID-19.

Q1. What are the reasons behind the IDBF

Council’s decision to cancel?

IDBF. There is a strong probability that the pandemic

will still be active in 2021. Until such time a vaccine

is widely available, any large group activity is at risk.

A vaccine and the global situation would need to be

stable by late 2020 in order for athletes to effectively

plan travel, and even earlier for the Organising

Committee. When and if a vaccine is developed is

subject for debate, but most reports suggest this will

not happen in 2020.

Hence after much consultation and deliberation,

taking into account the views of the athletes, our

members and the current and future organising

committees, the factors which have driven the

decision to cancel were:

• Athletes did not want two world

championships in any given year.

• The economic effects of COVID-19 and

people’s confidence in international travel

will cause a reduction in the number of

competitors for a CCWC in 2021.

• Aix-les-Bains is not a purpose designed

regatta course and requires costly and

significant infrastructure works which

have increased the organisational costs

• A reduction in the number of competitors

could affect the overall financial viability of a

championships in France

• Grants and sponsorship for 2020 may not be

transferrable to 2021, while Hong Kong have

agreed funding for 2021

• Travel restrictions may still be an issue for

2021, so a championship towards the end

of the year has a better chance of success.

Q2. Why was the event not postponed with our

deposits transferred to 2021?

IDBF. The view expressed by athletes from the

Athletes Commission and supported by most

national federations, was that it was not possible to

hold two championships in 2021. With

championships every year, postponement to a later

year considering the views of athletes is not

possible. Travel restrictions may still be an issue for

2021, so a championship towards the end of the

year has a better chance of success.

Q3. It was communicated that the €500 deposits

was a part of the €1.4 million spent to run the

Championships. Now the event has been

cancelled, are we able to have the deposits

refunded?

IDBF. The budget to run the CCWC was around

€1.4 million to organise the whole Championship.

Only a proportion of this total budget has been

spent, since the announcement was made in March

that CCWC would not be held in 2020.

The IDBF acknowledges concerns raised by clubs

regarding the refund of the €500 deposits, which

were paid directly to the Organising Committee. We

are in talks with the Organising Committee and hope

to come to an agreement that provides at least a

partial refund.

Q4. Have you thought about the impact of the

cancellation to European clubs who cannot

afford or get visas to go to North America to

compete in CCWC 2022?

IDBF. The CCWC was in Europe 2014 Ravenna,

2018 Szeged and should have been France 2020 so

it is the world outside Europe who has borne the

travelling costs. One of the countries that always

have high numbers in all our championships is

Australia and they also have to incur significant costs

every year.



Q5. Does the IDBF or Organising Committee

carry any event insurance which will allow us

to re-claim our hotel and travel expenses?

IDBF. The IDBF insurers have informed us that we

are not covered for event cancellation in these

circumstances. The Organising Committee has

confirmed that their insurance does not cover

cancellation due to a pandemic.

Q6. We have spent thousands of Euros on

hotel accommodation. How can we get our

hotel deposits returned?

IDBF. We understand and acknowledge that

getting accommodation deposits back is a

challenge as each country has their own refund

rules and laws that are different to what we would

expect. The IDBF itself is also out-of-pocket, with a

significant sum paid for hotel deposits. One of the

reasons why we made an official statement to

cancel the event is to assist clubs with making

claims from travel insurers or directly from hotels

and airlines to have deposits returned.

Please contact your travel agent, online booking

company or hotel directly for refund options. Check

the cancellation policy of your hotel booking to

make sure you are eligible for a refund. If you

purchased any travel insurance, please check the

policy terms and conditions or call your insurer for

advice.

Q7. Our club qualified in 2019/2020 to attend

the CCWC in 2020, will this qualification be

carried over to 2022?

IDBF. Qualification status is determined by each

National Federation who provides IDBF with the

list of qualifying clubs for each CCWC. Please

contact your National Federation regarding their

decision on the qualification process for 2022.

Q8. Who is the IDBF Council?

IDBF. The IDBF Council consists of the IDBF

Executive, Commission Chairs and five

Continental Dragon Boat Federations and two

associate organisations. They represent athletes

and national federations who are members of

IDBF. The Council comprises of 27 members.

The Commission Chairs represent: Paradragons,

Athletes, Women, Youth, Sport for All, Entourage,

Competition & Technical, Marketing & Media,

Culture and Heritage, and Medical.

The Continental Dragon Boat Federations

comprise of European Dragon Boat Federation,

Pan America, Asia, and Oceania. The associate

members are the International Ice Dragon Boat

Federation and the International Breast Cancer

Paddlers Commission.

DSN Comments. Whilst it is true that COVID-19 is likely to be around for a long time and that a vaccine may not be

found (it is over 13 years since the last SARS outbreak and there is still not an effective vaccine for it). Travel plans will

need to be carefully made in the future, these are situations that the whole world will have to live with and adjust to. It is

always easy to criticize decisions taken on our behalf and as far as the COVID-19 pandemic is concerned, the IDBF has

indeed had some difficult decisions to make and will have more to make in the coming months.

DSN therefore makes the comments that follow not as criticisms against the IDBF but as observations and

suggestions on what is a difficult situation for us all to face and deal with. It does seem a little early, on the face of it, to

decide not to hold an IDBF Club Crew World Championship in 2021.

Having two World Championships in a year has

been done before when the SARS epidemic

spread from China to the world. In fact three world

championships were run within 18 months of each

other, during that period.

The first in Poland, the World Nations in Aug 2003

replaced the SARS hit Champs in China. This was

followed by the CCWC in South Africa in April 2004

and then later in Oct 2004, the Nations Champs in

China, originally scheduled for 2003.

In any event the athletes who go to a CCWC are

mainly not the same ones that go to a World

Nations Champs and so most of them would only

have, one World Champs to go to in 2021

Even given the unpredictable COVID-19

situation, to have a postponed CCWC say in

Jul/August 2021 and a World Nations in November

2021, in Hong Kong, should still be possible and

from most club crew athletes point of view,

desirable, as opposed to cancelling their

scheduled 2020 CCWC completely.

Were all the Crews planning to go to France,

consulted on this question and were alternative

locations in France considered by the IDBF and

did the IDBF ask the IDBF Members if any of

them would be prepared to stage the CCWC in

2021, instead of in France ?

It is worth noting, that the athletes in the IDBF

Federations in Europe’, who form the majority of

the IDBF Membership, already compete in large

numbers, in both an EDBF and an IDBF

Championship each year. The 2020 European

Nations Championships in Kiev have been

postponed until 2021, when the European Club

Crews Champs are also due to be held.

The EDBF is now looking at how to hold both

Championships in 2021, so it is possible that

European athletes will be offered three major

Championships in 2021, two in Europe (Nations

and Clubs) and one World Nations in Hong Kong.

So far there has been no pressure against this

from the athletes.



Kiev in July 2021, has already been proposed by

the EDBF Council as the venue for the postponed

2020 European Nations and they could even ask

Kiev (or Aix-Les-Bains) to host the postponed 2020

European Club Crew Champs in 2021.

The EDBF may also propose that the IDBF Junior

World’s be held together with the EDBF Champs,

as the 2021 Worlds in Hong Kong fall outside of

the school holiday periods. The question is,

should the IDBF Council re-consider holding a

CCWC in 2021 – but not in France !.

On the question of insurance cover, the IDBF

Contract of Agreements requires the Org Com to

hold a comprehensive event insurance policy that

covers all eventualities (COVID-19 might be an

exception) and for a copy of the policy to be lodged

with the IDBF well before the event takes place.

Hotel deposits and the like should normally be

covered by a Crews own travel insurance and

athletes personal accident cover, whilst at an IDBF

Champs, should be included in their National

Federation’s insurance cover.

On the financial side of the equation, a possible

reduction in participant numbers should not create

any insurmountable problems for the IDBF or an

Organising Committee. Good management, of any

event, tells you to budget low on income from entry

fees and budget your expenditure to meet a low

income. That way when entries are higher than

anticipated, you can either add expenditure items

to your budget or accept a surplus of income.

The whole of the IDBF World Champs

budgeting system, is based on an Organising

Committee being committed to organising a basic

technical championships, which means providing,

from the anticipated Race Admin Fees, Dragon

Boats, a buoyed regatta course, embarkation

points, a race control area, competitors changing

facilities and medals.

This is the ‘core budget’ as the IDBF designates

this area of expenditure. Any capital expenditure,

non-essential technical or non-technical equipment

and facilities, social activities, etc, must come from

other income sources, such as sponsors, grants

from hosting cities and support-in-kind from other

sources and not from the Core Budget income.

From the reasons given for cancelling Aix-Le-

Bains, with a reported expenditure of a mind

boggling 1.4 million Euro, it would seem that the

IDBF Core Budget system has been largely

ignored and at least some of the costs of providing

a purpose designed regatta course, has been set

against the competitors Admin Fees or against

non-essential items, with the result, apparently,

that the deposits paid by the crews have already

been spent.

This level of spending, in advance of the actual

Championships, is a situation that the IDBF Core

Budget system was designed to avoid.

Serious questions now need to be asked of the

Organising Committee and a close look at their

accounts taken, to see what the crews Admin

Fees deposits were spent on, the validity of such

spending and a compensation system worked out

to the benefit of all the Club Crews who entered

the 12 th IDBF CCWC.

In closing these observations and suggestions,

it is worth noting that whilst the cancellation

notice of the 12 th IDBF CCWC has come from the

IDBF Council, who made their decision based on

the advice and opinions of the IDBF Executive

Committee, World Championships are actually

awarded to an Organising Committee by the IDBF

Members Ordinary Congress, which normally

meets every 2 years at an IDBF World Nations

Championships.

The next Congress will be held in Hong Kong after

the 2021 World Nations Championships.

The IDBF Statutes do not make any specific

reference to who can cancel a World

Championships, once approved by a Congress

but the Bye Laws allow the Council leeway if

certain contract conditions are not met.

However, the Statutes do allow for the holding of

an Extraordinary Congress under Article 24 of the

IDBF Statutes, which states that “Delegates shall

meet as an Extraordinary Congress, when the

Ordinary Congress the Council or the Executive

Committee so decide or when at least one-third

of the Full Members submit a demand in writing

to the President giving reasons therefore.

So if the desire is there, from the IDBF Council or Executive Committee, or if enough IDBF Members want it, an

Extraordinary Congress could be called in 2020, to discuss whether a CCWC could or should take place in 2021

(possibly still in Europe) and if so when and where that would be. Therefore, Clubs that want to have a CCWC in 2021

are entitled to lobby the IDBF Council to reconsider their decision or ask their National Federation to call an Extraordinary

IDBF Congress, under Article 24 of the IDBF Statutes.

Such a Congress would give the IDBF Members the advance opportunity to make a bid for a CCWC in 2021 and

then approve one. It would not need to be on the same scale as Aix Les Bains or anywhere near a cost of 1.4 million

Euro.

Using the IDBF Core Budget guidelines, a CCWC could be financed and run as a straightforward low budget

competition, using the Admin Fee agreed for the event, as happens now in many federations around the world,

when running their own events and such a low budget CCWC would make sense given how unpredictable the

situation concerning COVID-19 might be in 2021 and beyond.



DRAGON BOAT INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER

“NEWS FROM DRAGON BOAT SPORT”

2021 PAN AMERICAN CLUB CREW CHMPIONSHIPS

PANAMA CITY, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA - 17-21 MARCH 2021

ALL CREWS IN THE PAN AMERICAN REGION ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE 2021 PAN AMERICAN CLUB

CREW CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN PANAMA CITY, PANAMA FROM MARCH 17 TH -21 ST 2021

The Opening Ceremony will be on Wednesday 17 th March 2021 and a Closing Party on Sunday 21 st March 2

Competition Days 18 th to 21 st March 2021

Countries expected to participate are Canada, USA, Argentina (soon to become a Member), Puerto Rico,

Trinidad & Tobago and Panama. Whilst there is no Brazil Member, allowance is being been made for Brazilian

Teams, or any teams in the Pan Am region that are not PADBF members, to participate.

The Local Organizers, the Panama Dragon Boat Association (PDBA) have ordered, 12 new IDBF Model 912 Small

Dragon Boats, from Champion Boats in China. (They are not the Off-shore boats used in Tobago)

The PDBA have negotiated accommodation at Hotel Panama (The official Hotel) in Panama City and the

Wyndham Hotel in Albrook Mall, also in Panama City. The room rates are low and inclusive of breakfast.

Besides the Panama Canal for sightseeing, shopping in Panama is amazing and the prices are incredibly low. In

fact, Albrook Mall is a shopping Mecca for visitors from the Caribbean, . South and Central America. If you are into

shopping, you may wish to travel with an empty suitcase. Both hotels are a 30 minutes coach ride to the race site

just outside the city. The race site area is call Amador where the water is alongside a park.

PACCC 2021 expect to stage even more categories of races including Breast Cancer Survivors’ races. The

Championship will be 4 days of races, from Thursday 18 th March to Sunday 21 st March 2021.This would give more

flexibility for race scheduling and give the Paddlers greater flexibility to enter more categories of races.

Race Distances:

Racing Classes:

200m, 500m, 1000m, 2000m, in Small Boats only.

Premier Division. Open, Women, Mixed.

Senior Division. Snr A, B, C Open, Women, Mixed.

Youth U21 Open, Women, Mixed.

Juniors U16 Open, Women, Mixed.

Breast Cancer Survivors

THE DRAGON BOAT FEDERATION OF INDIA (DBFI)

Mr Surit Singh Baiwa, Life President of the DBFI, advises all Dragon Boaters that the correct email addresses for the

Federation are:- dragonboatindia@gmail.com.& bajwadbfi@gmail.com.

You may receive emails from dragonboatfederation of india@gmail.com which is an old email address being used by the previous

DBFI Sec General, Mr Parveen Kumar, who was dismissed from his post in 2018 and has now set up another DBFI in

opposition to the original DBFI, which is the recognised Member Federation of the IDBF for India.

You are requested to delete the old DBFI email address from your contacts list and only correspond with the DBFI

through dragonboatindia@gmail.com and/or bajwadbfi@gmail.com.



CULTURE CORNER

RACING THE DRAGON – 2020 DRAGON BOAT

FESTIVAL 25-26 JUNE.

The Dragon Boat Festival, otherwise known as the Duanwu or Tuen Ng Festival, is one of China's major

traditional festivals, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month,

commemorates Qu Yuan – a patriotic poet and a loyal official of the State of

Chu during the Warring States - see The Traditional Story below.

He dedicated his whole life to assisting the king to build the State of Chu

stronger. As an ancient literary giant, Qu Yuan is regarded as one of the most

prominent Romanticism figures in Chinese literature. Best known for his poem

"Li Sao" from the anthology "Chuci," Qu expresses his love and passion for his

country, and the sadness and suffering of the ordinary people through numerous metaphors.

Since 2008, the Dragon Boat Festival is not only a festival but also a public holiday in China. In September 2009,

UNESCO added the Dragon Boat Festival to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, making it the first Chinese festival to

receive the honour. China, as the place of origin, is abundant in celebrations and traditions, has two major celebrations,

zongzi making and dragon boat racing. .

25 June. 2020 - 26 June 2020 TAIPEI DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

http://dragonboat.taipei

This event combines with elements of waterfront development, city image and folk sports culture of dragon

boat race which includes dragon boat rowing try-out experience, eye-dotting activities and 2020 Taipei International

Dragon Boat Championship. It attracts domestic and international elites to compete every year. It is a unique sports

marketing for the city image and tourism promotion.

Every year, the tournament has attracted at total of 220 teams from across Taiwan and abroad. Roughly 6,000

athletes will compete for an accumulative prize pool worth NT $ 2.8 million. The event is the largest dragon boat

tournament in Taiwan. During the carnival between June 25 and 27, there will be a national-level, high elevation eggstanding

competition, as well as dragon boat festival creative Show. There will also be various stage activities and stalls

touting creative products, expected to attract over 70,000 participants. For more information, please visit the official

Chinese website of the 2020 Taipei International Dragon Boat Festival: http://dragonboat.taipei/

Organizer: Taipei City Government. Manager: Department of Sports. Taipei City Government



2020 MACAU INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACES

The Macau International Dragon Boat Races today

celebrated its 20th year on 25 June 2020. Co-organised by

the Macau China Dragon Boat Association and the Macau

Sports Bureau since 2000, the live streaming of the event

brought action into the homes of dragon boat fans from

across the world that were unable to participate due to

COVID-19 government restrictions.

The Macau International Dragon Boat Races usually

celebrates the festival by inviting elite clubs and national

teams from all around the world to compete head to head

in some fast and furious sprint racing. Teams from China,

Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,

Singapore, Thailand, Italy, Portugal, Russia and the US

have all competed in the past at this prestigious event. Due

to COVID-19, international teams were unable to participate this year.

Although the COVID-19 situation in Macau is relatively stable, the

Macau Organising Committee decided to run the event with local teams

only. This year, there were 108 teams and over 2000 athletes

competing, with 71 crews racing in small boats (10 paddlers, steerer

and drummer) and 37 crews competing in standard boats (20 paddlers,

steerer and drummer).

There was strong local support for the event with over 2000 supporters

and spectators. Half the amount that would usually attend due to crowd

control measures placed by the government.

DOWNSIZED EVENT MARKS DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL IN HONG KONG

Twelve teams took part in a dragon boat water parade in

Stanley, Hong Kong, on Thursday (June 25) to mark the Dragon

Boat Festival which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the

Chinese lunar calendar.

The formal tournament — Stanley International Dragon Boat

Championships — originally slated for Thursday and drew

some 200 to 300 teams in the past years, has been postponed

till October 2020, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

THE TRADITIONAL STORY. Many believe that the Dragon Boat Festival originated in

ancient China based on the suicide of the poet and statesman of the Chu kingdom, Qu

Yuan in 278 BCE. Qu Yuan was a loyal minister of the King of Chu but his wisdom and

intellectual ways antagonized other court officials. They accused him of false charges of

conspiracy and he was exiled by the king.

During his exile, Qu Yuan composed many poems to express his anger and sorrow

towards his sovereign and people. In 280 BC Qin launched an overall invasion of Chu, and

captured the Chu capital in 278 BC. The news reached Qu Yuan while he was near the Miluo

River in today's northeastern Hunan Province. In frustration at being unable to do anything to

save his state, he clasped a big stone to his breast and leaped into the river to end his life.

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate attempts by local people to rescue Qu

Yuan, who then began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river for Qu Yuan,

while others believed that the rice would prevent the fishes in the river from eating Qu Yuan’s

body. At first, the locals decided to make zongzi in hopes that it would sink into the river and

reach Qu Yuan’s body. However, the tradition of wrapping the rice in bamboo leaves to make zongzi began the

following year.



DSN CALENDAR OF DRAGON BOAT SPORT & FESTIVAL RACING 2020

Issue 5: JUNE - DECENBER 2020

Given the world pandemic caused by the coronavirus it is assumed that most if not all Dragon Boat events until

August will have been cancelled or postponed. You should check with the organiser concerned, if you wish to go

to any off the events scheduled for June or July 2020.

All events shown for June and July should now be considered as Provisional dates.

Championships - International & National

Local Races & Events

Festival Races

International Regattas & Regional Champs

Multi Sports Games & Boating Events

All Races shown use IDBF Racing Rules or rules adapted from

them. Championships are held under IDBF Competition Regs.

(P) = Provisional Date or Venue

All events and dates shown as at 30 th April 2020. (P) = Provisional. TBN = To Be Notified

JUNE 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

05-06 June 2020 Dragon Boat Regatta Furstenwalde Furstenwalde Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

05-07 June 2020 Dragon Boat Cup, Cologne Cologne (Koln) Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

06 June 2020 Chicago Southland DB Festival Chicago USA www.gwndragonboat.com

06-07 June 2020 Pickering Dragon Boat Festival Pickering, Ont Canada www.pdbc.ca

06 June 2020 Dragon Boat Regatta Cottbus Cottbus Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

06 June 2020 Echo Dragon Boat Races, Surrey Docks WSC London England www.racethedragon.com

06 June 2020 Defi DB Races, AMCAL Montreal QC Canada www.22dragons.com

06 June 2020 Independence DB Regatta Philadelphia, PA USA www.panamdragonboat.com

06 June 2020 Mt Dora Paddlefest Mt Dora, Florida USA www.panamdragonboat.com

06 June 2020 Lachine Knockout DB Races Lachine, Quebec Canada www.dragonboat.ca

06 June 2020 Dragon Boat Festival Dobbertin Dobbertin Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

07 June 2020 British National League – Race.3 CANCELLED Worcester England www dragonboat.org.uk

07 June 2020 Chester Dragon Boat Festival Chester England www.racethedragon.com

07 June 2020 Barrow Dragon Boat Regatta, Carlow Town Park Graiguecullen, Carlow Ireland www.dragonboat.ie

12-13 June 2020 Neuhausen Water Festival Neuhausen Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

13 June 2020 Dragon Boat Cup, Neubrandenburg Neubrandenburg Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

13 June 2020 Peterborough Dragon Boat Festival, Peterborough, Ont Canada www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

13 June 2020 Dragon Boat Festival Greifswald Greifswald Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

13 June 2020 Paddle for Pink DB Races, West Windsor Princeton, NJ USA www.panamdragonboat.com

13 June 2020 Rotary Club, Edgbaston DB Challenge Birmingham England www.racethedragon.com

13 June 2020 Peterboro Dragon Boat Festival, Thorpe Meadows Peterborough England www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

13 June 2020 Fanshawe DB Festival London, Ontario Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

13 June 2020 British National League – Race.4 CANCELLED Milton Keynes England www dragonboat.org.uk

13 June 2020 Kankakee Valley Dragon Boat DB Festival Kankakee, IN USA www.gwndragonboat.com

13 June 2020 Arlington DB Festival Arlington, Texas USA www.panamdragonboat.com

13 June 2020 Fairway Gorge DB Festival – 500m Victoria BC Canada www.fgpaddle.com

13-14 June 2020 Penang Int Dragon Boat Races Penang Malaysia www.penangdragonfestival

13-14 June 2020 Istanbul Mayis Dragon Boat Festival Istanbul Turkey www.dragonfestivali.com

14 June 2020 Mississauga Dragon Boat DB Festival Mississauga, Ontario Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

19 June 2020 Dragon Boat Cup, Essen Essen Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

19 June 2020 Dragon Boat Races Oranienburg Oranienburg Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

19-21 June 2020 Concord Pacific DB Festival Vancouver Canada www.dragonbobc.ca

20 June 2020 Hope Chest Buffalo-Niagara DB Festival Buffalo, NY USA www.panamdragonboat.com

20-21 June 2020 29 th Toronto International DB Festival Races Toronto Ctre Island Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

20-21 June 2020 TobagoDragon Boat Festival Trobago

Trinidad &

Tobago

www.trinidad & tobago DB federation



27-28 June 2020 Izmir Dragon Boat Festival Izmir Turkey www.dragonfestivali.com

18 June 2020 London Construction Ind DB Challenge, West Res London N4. England www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

19-21 June 2020 Hong Kong International DB Races Venue TBC HK China www.hkcdba.org

20 June 2020 Big Blue DB Festival La Crosse, WI USA www.panamdragonboat.com

21 June 2020 Really Helpful Club DB Challenge, Park Lake Wimbledon, London England www.racethedragon.com

25 June 2020 TBC Macau International DB Races Nam Van Lake NC Macau, China www.

25 June 2020 Sun Life Stanley International DB Races, 270m Stanley Beach HK China, www.dragonboat.org.hk

26-28 June 2020 Bradford Dragon Boat Festival, Roberts Park Bradford England www.racethedragon.com

27-28 June 2020 Tim Horton Ottawa, DB Festival Races Ottawa Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

27 June 2020 Dragon Boat Races Wintersdorf Wintersdorf Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

27 June 2020 Milton Keynes DB Festival, Willen Lake Milton Keynes England www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

27 June 2020 Chicago Dragon Boat for Literacy Chicago, IL USA www.panamdragonboat.com

27-28 June 2020 Eglisau Dragon Boat Festival Eglisau Switzerland www.dragonboat.ch

28 June 2020 British National League – Race.5 CANCELLED RA Docks London England www dragonboat.org.uk

JULY 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

04 July 2020 Dragon Boat Festival Strausberg Strausberg Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

04-05 July 2020 Montreal DB Challenge Montreal QC Canada www.22dragons.com

05 July 2020 19 th Sun Life Stanley Short Course Races – 200m Stanley Beach HK China www.dragonboat.org.hk

05 July 2020 Dragon Boat Races Erfurt Erfurt Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

05 July 2020 KWF DB Festival, Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent Maidstone England www.racethedragon.com

10-12 July 2020 Nanaimo DB Festival Victoria BC Canada www.fgpaddle.com

11 July 2020 17 th Dragon Boat Friendship Cups – 300m Std Bt Shing Mun River HK China www.hkcdba.org

11 July 2020 Dragon Boat Races Hall Hall Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

11 July 2020 Northwich River Festival DB Races, River Weaver Northwich England www.racethedragon.com

11 July 2020 Milwaukee Dragon Boat Festival Milwaukee, Misconsin USA www.panamdragonboat.com

11 July 2020 St Georges de Beauce Annual DB Races St Georges QC Canada www.22dragons.com

11 July 2020 GWN Sport Regatta, Marilyn Park Toronto, Ontario Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

15-19 July 2020 14 th EDBF NATIONS CHAMPS. - POSTPONED, Kiev (Kyiv) Ukraine www.edbf.org

16 July 2020 Greater Green Bay DB Festival Green Bay, WI USA www.panamdragonboat.com

18 July 2020 H20 The Dragon Boat Festival Amos QC Canada www.22dragons.com

18-19 July 2020 Singapore DB Festival (incorp PM Cup) – 500m Marina Channel Singapore www.sdba.org.sg

24-26 Jul 2020 Canadian National Champs, POSTPONED Welland ON Canada www.dragonboat.ca

25 July 2020 Fire Services Dept DB Races, Sml/Std Boat 200m Shing Mun River HK China www.hkcdba.org

26 July 2020 Auxiliary Medical Service Races, Sml/Std Bt 200m Shing Mun River HK China www.hkcdba.org

25-26 July 2020 Pesta Sukan – 200m & 2km Marina Channel Singapore www.sdba.org.sg

26 July 2020 British National League – Race.6, Cancelled Nottingham England www dragonboat.org.uk

25 July 2020 Rowan County DB Festival Salisbury, NC USA www.panamdragonboat.com

25 July 2020 Chicago International DB Festival Chicago USA www.gwndragonboat.com



AUGUST 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

1 Aug 2020 Norfolk Dragon Boat Festival Norfolk VA USA www.panamdragonboat.com

01 Aug 2020 Richmond Int DB Festival Richmond, BC Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

01 Aug 2020 4 th Donegal Dragons DB Regatta, Nth West Coast Donegal Ireland www.dragonboat.ie

01 Aug 2020 Lake Bemidji DB Festival Lake Bemidji MN USA www.gwndragonboat.com

01 Aug 2020 Werberlinsee Dragon Boat Races Werberlinsee Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

02 Aug 2020 Nottingham Riverside Festival, Victoria Emb. Nottingham England www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

03-04 Aug 2020 Get Active Singapore Races - Sports Hub WSC Kallang Basin Singapore www.sdba.org.sg

To be Confirmed 10 th Hong Kong Indoor Dragon Boat Champs To be notified HK China www.hkcdba.org

06-09 Aug 2020 18th Padang Int Dragon Boat Festival Padang Indonesia www.padangdragonboatfwestival

07-09 Aug 2020 Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Victoria, BC Canada www.fgpaddle.com

08 Aug 2020 Waterford DB Festival Waterford, NY USA www.panamdragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 Chautauqua Lake Dragon Boat Races Chautauqua Lk NY USA www.gwndragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 White Bear Lake DB Festival White Bear Lake MN USA www.panamdragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 Starbuck DB Festival, Lake Minnewaska Minnesota USA www.gwndragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 Oriental DB Festival Oriental NC USA www.panamdragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 Woodstock Rotary DB Festival, Woodstock, Vermont Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

08 Aug 2020 Rawdon DB Festival Races 250 & 500m Rawdon QC Canada www.22dragons.com

09 Aug 2020 British National League – Race.7, Wath upon Dearne England www dragonboat.org.uk

09 Aug 2020 Boston Dragon Boat Races, Withway Country Pk Boston, Lincolnshire England www.racethedragon.com

15 Aug 2020 Minocqua DB Festival Minocqua WI USA www.panamdragonboat.com

15 Aug 2020 River Front & Asian DB Festival Hartford, CT USA www.gwndragonboat.com

15 Aug 2020 Habitat DB Festival Gadsden AL USA www.panamdragonboat.com

18 Aug 2020 Northern Nevada Int DB Festival Navada USA www.gwndragonboat.com

22 Aug 2020 Lake Andrea DB Fest Pleasant Prairie WI USA www.panamdragonboat.com

22 Aug 2020 Colorado Springs DB Festival, Prospect Lake Colorado Springs USA www.gwndragonboat.com

22 Aug 2020 Dragon Boat Races Kremmen Kremmen Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

22 Aug 2020 Steveston DB Festival Steveston BC Canada www.dragonbobc.ca

23 Aug 2020 Reading Dragon Boat Festival Reading England www.readingdragonboatfestival.co.uk

24-30 Aug 2020 12 th IDBF CCWC - CANCELLED Aix Le Bains France www.idbf.org

29 Aug 2019 Dragons At The Docks, Grand Canal Dock Ringsend, Dublin Ireland www.dragonboat.ie

28-30 Aug 2020 Dragon Boat Cup Dortmund Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

30 Aug 2020 Dragon on the Lake DB Festival, Lake Orion Lake Orion MI USA www.gwndragonboat.com

31 Aug 2020 Sando Independence Regatta Trinidad

Trinidad &

Tobago

www.trinidad & Tobago DB federation

SEPTEMBER 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

01 Sept 2019 Tees Dragon Boat Festival, River Tees WSC Stockton England www.teesdragonboatfestival.co.uk

03 Sept 2020 Dragons At The Docks, Grand Canal Dock Ringsend, Dublin Ireland www.dragonboat.ie

04-06 Sept 2020 Dragon Boat Cup Minden Minden Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

05 Sept 2020 Great River Race, River Thames London England www.greatriverrace.co.uk

05 Sept 2020 Dragon Boat Races Wintersdorf Wintersdorf Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

06 Sept 2020 British National League – Race.8, Surrey Quays London England www dragonboat.org.uk

06 Sept 2020 St Catherine’s Hospice, DB Festival, Tilgate Park, Crawley, Sussex England www.racethedragon.com

07-08 Sept 2019 GWN Dragon Boat Challenge, Western Beach Toronto, Ontario Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

12 Sept 2020 Wirral Headway, DB Festival, Marine Lake West Kirby England www.racethedragon.com

12 Sept 2020 Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, River Cam Cambridge England www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

12 Sept 2020 Dunebrook DB Festival La Porte PA USA www.panamdragonboat.com

12 Sept 2020 Rostock Autumn Dragon Boat Races Rostock Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

12 Sept 2020 Louisville DB Festival Louisville KY USA www.panamdragonboat.com

12-13 Sept 2020 Tim Hortons GWN DB Challenge, Marilyn Bell Pk Toronto Canada www.gwndragonboat.com



12-13 Sept 2020 Dublin Int DBoat Regatta, Grand Canal Dock Ringsend, Dublin Ireland www.dragonboat.ie

12-15 Sept 2020 ICF Members DB Champs, Bilawali Lake Indore India www.canoeicf.com

13 Sept 2020 Tees Dragon Boat Festival, River Tees WSC Stockton-on-Tees England www.racethedragon.com

19 Sept 2020 Mercer County DB Festival West Windsor, NJ USA www.gwndragonboat.com

19 Sept 2020 Stratford Rotary DB Festival Stratford, Ontario Canada www.gwndragonboat.com

19-20 Sept 2020 Quebec DB Cup, 200, 500, 2000m Montreal QC Canada www.22dragons.com

19-20 Sept 2020 Istanbul Haziran Dragon Boat Festival Istanbul Turkey www.dragonfestivali.com

19-20 Sept 2020 British National Championships. NWSC Nottingham England www.dragonboat.org.uk www.nzdba.c

26 Sept 2020 Synergy DB Race Series Hollywood FL USA www.panamdragonboat.com

26-27 Sept 2020 San Diego Dragon Boat Race San Diego CA Singapore www.usdbf.org

26 Sept 2020 Greater Triangle Area DB Festival Rayleigh NC USA www.panamdragonboat.com

26 Sept 2020 SDBA-AustCham DB Challenge 5km & 10km Marina Reservoir Singapore www.sdba.org.sg

26 Sept 2020 Rotary Club of Peachtree City DB Festival Peachtree City GA USA www.panamdragonboat.com

26 Sept 2020 Ankara Dragon Boat Festival Ankara Turkey www.dragonfestivali.com

OCTOBER 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

03 Oct 2020 Dragon Boat Cup, Strandbad, Berlin-Weissensee Berlin Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

03 Oct 2020 Philadelphia International DB Festival Philadelphia PA USA www.panamdragonboat.com

10-11 Oct 2020 CBL Chinese Arrival Dragon Boat Festival Trinidad

Trinidad &

Tobago

www.trinidad & tobago DB federation

12-18 Oct 2020 PanAm Training & Race Camp Torrevieja Spain www.panamdragonboat.com

17 Oct 2020 Orlando Int DB Festival Orlando, Florida USA www.gwndragonboat.com

17 Oct 2020 Dragon Boat Triathon Berlin 500,1000m, 2.5km Berlin Germany www.drachenboot-liga.de

24 Oct 2020 Suncoast International DB Festival Sarasota FL USA www.panamdragonboat.com

NOVEMBER 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

TBC Nov 2020 Western Region DB Regatta, Windamere Dam Cudgegong, NSW Australia www.dbnsw.org.au

01-05 Nov 2020 14 th ADBF Asian Dragon Boat Championships Kwun Tong Prom HK China www.hkcdba.org

06-08 Nov 2020 21st Hong Kong International DB Champs Kwun Tong Prom HK China www.hkcdba.org

07 Nov 2020 Lake Hernando DB Festival Hernando FL USA www.gwndragonboat.com

10-15 Nov 2020 (P) PanAm Training & Race Camp - Provisional Limassol Cyprus www.panamdragonboat.com

14-15 Nov 2020 Limassol Int DB Races & Euro Cup Race Limassol Cyprus www. facebook.com/CYDBA

20-23 Nov 2020 (P) Guam International Dragon Boat Festival To be confirmed Guam www.guamdragon boat federation

21 Nov 2020 Pan Am Sport Regatta, By-Pass Canal Tampa FL USA www.gwndragonboat.com

21-22 Nov 2020 Singapore Regatta, Water Fest – 200m Sports Hub WSC Singapore www.sdba.org.sg

DECEMBER 2020 Event Details Venue Country Contact Details

05-06 Dec 2020 Penang International Dragon Boat Festival Penang Malaysia www.penangdragonfestival

06 Dec 2020 11 th Hong Kong Half Marathon DB Champs Shing Mun River HK China www.hkcdba.org

WE WISH YOU ALL WELL AND KEEP SAFE FROM HARM



DRAGON SPORT NEWS

the Emagazine for Dragon Boaters world-wide

wide

“The Independent Voice of Dragon Boat Sport”

Keep social

distancing and

‘Stay Safe’

Don’t forget to wash

your hands regularly

and wear a face mask

when you are using

public transport


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