2019 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup held on the Dongqian Lake

The 2019 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup was convened on the Dongqian Lake on November and came to a successful close in the afternoon of November 3. Thomas Konietzko, Vice President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), Qiu Dongyao, Mayor of the Ningbo City, and Chu Yinliang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, Secretary of the CPC Yinzhou District Committee and Secretary of the CPC Dongqian Lake Tourism Zone Committee, presented awards to winners.

Present at the activity, there were Liu Aijie, President of the Chinese Canoe Association, Lu Hongwei, Director of the Dragon Boat Committee of the ICF and Secretary General of the Asian Canoe Federation, Martin Marinov, an event technical delegate of the ICF, and district leaders as well as municipal leaders, including Xu Ya’nan, Zhang Liangcai, Yang Huifang, Zheng Kunfa, Zhu Fachuan and Wo Yongte.

As a top-level dragon boat competition under the ICF, this world cup of dragon boat is organized by the International Canoe Federation and undertaken by the Chinese Canoe Association and Ningbo Municipal People’s government. The dragon boat race bears the cultural core of Chinese nation’s unity, striving and endeavor. Ningbo is the birthplace of the dragon boat race. The unearthed Yue (an ancient weapon, made of bronze) with the pattern of “feathered men racing on a river” records the world’s earliest water sports using paddles.

Chu Yinliang warmly welcomed the guests coming to attend the 2019 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup on behalf of Ningbo, and extended appreciations to the International Canoe Federation, the Asian Canoe Federation, the Chinese Canoe Association, the Sport Bureau of Zhejiang Province and people from all walks of life who had supported and contributed to the event. He said that the Dragon Boat inherits the traditional Chinese culture and shows the spirit of unity and progress, that Ningbo is a famous city of a long history and profound culture as well as one of the birthplaces of “Dragon Boat Race” in China. The custom of having dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival has lasted for more than 2,000 years and inspired the people of Ningbo to carry out “6 Strivings for Further Development in 3 Years’ Time”. Last year’s GDP exceeded 1 trillion yuan, and the total industrial output value ranked the first throughout Zhejiang Province. Ningbo Zhoushan Port boasts its cargo handling capacity being the first in the world. Ningbo is also one of the happiest cities in China.

Chu Yinliang said that this 2019 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup is not only an important platform for dragon boat athletes of all countries to compete with each other, but also a great opportunity to enhance the friendship between Ningbo and friends from overseas. We will be a good host, provide first-class services, and make the Dragon Boat World Cup a grand event for mutual progress and for the future.

The event attracted 34 teams from 28 countries and regions around the world, and nearly 1,000 referees, coaches and athletes. The race adopts two types of boats, namely the 22-person dragon boat and 10-person dragon boat for 10 kinds of races, such as men’s and women’s 200m, 500m straight race and men’s and women’s mixed 500m straight race and so on. After fierce competition, 2 teams with China became the biggest winners, winning a total of 10 gold medals, 5 silver ones and 2 bronze ones. The China National Dragon Boat Team won 9 medals, including 6 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze ones, while Ningbo Dragon Boat Team won 8 medals, including 4 gold and 4 silver ones.

The Thailand Team also played very well and won 2 silver medals. Both the teams from Russia and the United States won 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals each. The Philippines Team won 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal. Teams from India, Germany and Hong Kong, China won 1 bronze medal respectively.

During the event, a series of activities such as the Dragon Boat Forum and Dragon Boat Carnival were held simultaneously. It is reported that thanks to this opportunity of hosting the Dragon Boat World Cup, Ningbo will integrate the Dragon Boat elements into the urban construction, display the image of Ningbo, and tell a good story of China.

Thomas Konietzko spoke highly of the 2019 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup. He said that the International Canoe Federation is aiming at developing professional competition platforms for the Dragon Boat Festival and has been carrying out dragon boat races under the cooperation with the Chinese Canoe Association and associations in other countries and regions. It is of great significance. The dragon boat race has been included in the 2018 Asian Games, which is a great step forward. At present, the International Canoe Federation and the Asian Canoe Federation are striving to make the dragon boat race one of the activities in the 2025 World Games and a demonstration project of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Dragon Boat World Cup held in Ningbo will become a key step to improve the importance of dragon boat sport in the world. The wonderful photos of the event will be spread all over the world. It is believed that this is not only the promotion of the dragon boat race, but also the promotion of our charming city of Ningbo. According to incomplete statistics, a total of 42,000 people came to watch the race.

In the afternoon of November 3, Qiu Dongyao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Ningbo City, received the delegation, led by Thomas Konietzko, Vice President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF). Present at the meeting, there were also Chu Yinliang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, Secretary of the CPC Yinzhou District Committee and Secretary of the CPC Dongqian Lake Tourism Zone Committee, Xu Ya’nan, Deputy Mayor of the Ningbo City, and Zhang Liangcai, Secretary General of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government.

Qiu Dongyao warmly welcomed Thomas Konietzko and his delegation, introduced the economic and social development in Ningbo in brief. He said that Ningbo is one of the happiest cities in China and the origin of dragon boat races, and that we are glad the Dragon Boat World Cup is held in Ningbo. He appreciated the support and care from the ICF for Ningbo. It’s wished that through the holding of this event, the development of the dragon boat race and the sports spirit will be further promoted and popularized.

Thomas Konietzko said that Ningbo is a city of charm with fast economic development, and also a beautiful city open to the outside world with profound culture. Thanks to the efforts of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee, Ningbo Municipal People’s Government and people from all walks of life, the ICF Dragon Boat World Cup is able to be held in Ningbo.

Liu Aijie, President of the Chinese Canoe Association and other guests and leaders attended the meeting as well.