Bugsay Boracay Tops Shatin Dragon Boat Race

A South China Morning Post report reveals the success of a Philippine dragon boat team in an international competition held in Hong Kong.

Groups of paddlers from around the world competed before a large crowd of spectators at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Regatta in Sha Tin yesterday.

More than 120 teams, including 17 foreign teams, took part in the annual event, which was first held in 1976.

The Philippine team Bugsay Boracay won the International Mixed Championships category yesterday, while Macau Dragon Boat Team was the first-runner up.

According to Bugsay Boracay's website, the team is composed of island-based expatriates, hotel and resort workers and residents of the island of Boracay, a famous resort in the Visayas group of islands.

The website says the team's goal is "to develop interest in dragon boat racing among adults and youth by introducing the sport to all areas of the community".

The president of the Dragon Boat Association, Wong Tin-tak, said he was honoured to be serving as the organisation's president during the same year as the Beijing Olympic Games.

"As the year of the Olympics in China, it is with great honour that I was elected as president of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association, which took part in the recent torch relay using dragon boats for the very first time in Olympic history," Mr Wong said.

"I am determined to promote the sport of dragon boat racing in all horizons, including the Olympic Games in the future."

Dragon boat races are held to commemorate the death of the popular patriot and poet Qu Yuan more than 2,000 years ago.

According to legend, Qu threw himself into a river after being accused of treason, prompting people who had heard of his fate to beat the water with oars to prevent the fish from eating his body while they searched for him.

A Chinese team, the Chinese Southern Sea Oceanic Jiujiang Dragon Boat team, also paddled its way to glory, winning the International Open Championship category.

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