Dragon boat racing is an ancient sport with a long history, stretching back to 2000 years ago in South China. It is part of a family of traditional longboats with oars found in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico. This sport has its roots in an ancient ritual popular among contending villagers, and it is believed to have originated in south-central China more than 2500 years ago. Nowadays, dragon boat racing is a popular competitive sport around the world, and Orlando, Florida is no exception.
A dragon boat is a human-powered vessel native to the Pearl River Delta region, in Guangdong province, in southern China. These boats are usually made of teak, but other types of wood are used in different parts of China. The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is the governing body for dragon boat racing worldwide. The two main activities of the festival are eating zongzi (rice dumplings) and boat racing, both related to dragons. Dragon boat races are usually held during the Dragon Boat Festival or Longzhou Jie () in Chinese.
During regattas, there are between 18 and 20 people on a standard boat and between 8 and 10 on a small boat, not including the helmsman (sweeper) or the drummer. The rowers look in the direction in which the ships are moving, while the dragons paddle like in a canoe and the rowers paddle in the opposite direction, as in Olympic diving. At the end of an official race for dragon boat racing in Orlando, Florida, awards are given out to recognize outstanding performances. These awards may include medals for first, second and third place finishers; trophies for overall winners; certificates for best team spirit; and ribbons for all participants. Awards may also be given out for best costume or most creative team name. Dragon boat racing is an exciting sport that combines physical strength with teamwork and strategy.
It is a great way to get involved with your local community and have fun while competing against other teams. Whether you're looking to win awards or just have a good time, dragon boat racing is sure to be an enjoyable experience.
