At The World Games 2009, Dragonboat Race is one of the spectacular invitational sports. Such races are normally being held over short distances like 200, 250 or 500 meters, but pursuit races of 2000 meters are also possible. The 16 to 20 paddlers move synchronously accompanied by the beats of a drummer. Thus, the boat reaches quite a high speed while a helmsman steers the course. This sport from the Far East has become popular in Europe during the 1980s. The first regatta on the Thames in London was organized in 1980, nine years later the First German Dragon Boat Festival was being held in Hamburg on the occasion of the harbour's 800. birthday. Since then, the number of Dragon Boat fans has increased steadily. There are numerous races with up to 3000 participants registerd in the national and international sports calendars.

History:
According to the legend, the tradition goes back to the 4th century A.D. Back then, the Chinese poet and reformer Qu Yuan, who had fallen out of favour with the court of the emperor, intended to commit suicide in the waters of the river Mi Luo. The news about this act of desperation spread rapidly throughout the nearby villages. Some fishermen, to whom Qu Yuan had become carrier of hope for a reform of the country, put on a race in order to save him. By beating the drum heavily, they meant to scare away dangerous fishes. Since then, fishers have celebrated symbolic boat races in honor of their statesman every 5th day of the 5th moon.

sport rules link: