Did You Know?

Facts

Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing water sport in the world today.
Dragon boat festivals are held successfully on five continents around the world.
It is currently estimated that nearly 50 million athletes participate annually in dragon boat competitions worldwide. The majority race in China and the Far East, with over 150,000 estimated participants in Europe, 50,000 in North America and 20,000 in Australasia.
Participants run the whole range of age and physical abilities.
Dragon boats are about 48 feet long, 3.5 feet wide and weigh about 800 pounds.
Teams generally have 20 paddlers, 1 tiller, 1 caller and some alternate or "spare" paddlers.
It is currently estimated two million spectators attend dragon boat festivals worldwide.

The Legend of Dragon Boating

Legend has it that Dragon Boat Racing is based on the historical death of a 4th century B.C. Chinese political critic, poet and statesman, Qu Yuan. Disappointed by the controlling political regime, repeatedly slandered and persecuted, Yuan resolved to end his life by plunging into the Milo River.

The local fisherman raced into the river to save the respected Minister, beating the water furiously with their paddles to prevent the fish from eating him. Unable to find Qu Yuan, the locals threw rice dumplings into the water to prevent him from suffering hunger. Then, late one night, Qu Yuan appeared to his followers and told them that the rice meant for him was being intercepted by a huge river dragon. So they began to wrap the sticky rice in three-cornered silk packages to ward off the dragon and continued to throw them in the river as a sacrifice to his faithful spirit.

Year after year, he locals put out boats in a symbolic search for Qu Yuan’s body until the cultural legend evolved into the Dragon Boat Festival. Qu Yuan is remembered as a righteous and talented man, honored all over the world through Dragon Boat Racing, actively keeping the legend alive by commemorating the day of his death.