| The International
Dragon Boat Federation was founded on June 24, 1991 in Hong Kong. Its founding members
stretched around the world and included Australia, People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei,
Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Philippines, Singapore and the
United States of America..
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| Traditional dragon
boat racing has been in existence in Southern China for over 2,400 years. In June of 1976,
non-national crews were invited to partake in traditional Hong Kong Festival Races for the first
time. It is from this invitation in 1976 that the member associations of the IDBF accept
and record that modern era dragon boat racing began. Over the next 15 years, other international
races quickly established themselves at ‘club level’. Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, the United
States, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden were the most notable. As the races developed, so did
common Rules and Regulations for international racing. From the mid 1980’s onwards, dragon boat
associations generated formal constitutions and set themselves apart from other sports governing
bodies as an independent allegiance. National Level Dragon Boat Racing was now established in
Asia, Europe, North America, Australasia and Africa, introducing a new breed of international
water sport to the competitive world.
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| In the late 1980’s,
representatives from the established dragon boat associations and newly emerging crews gathered
to brainstorm and streamline the forming of a Continental and World Federation for the sport.
As a result, the European Dragon Boat Federation (EDBF) was formed in 1990, followed by the IDBF
in 1991 and the Asian Dragon Boat Federation (ADBF) in 1992. These three independent federations
now act as the representative bodies for the sport. All rules, regulation and race championships
for member associations are enacted by these three federations. The ADBF and EDBF recognize the
IDBF as the only governing body for the sport at world level.
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