The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will take place on June 24 and 25, after a four-year hiatus. The 500-metre race route on Victoria Harbour will run along the promenade from East Tsim Sha Tsui to the Avenue of Stars. Registrations for the event open from March 20-April 3.
The races are open to participants aged between 12 and 70 as of January 1, 2023. The event can accommodate around 40 international and 120 local dragon boat teams, and each team can participate in as many events as they like. Mainland, Taiwanese, and overseas teams can sign up for the races for free, while local teams must pay a registration fee of HK$4,000 per team. Youth teams can participate for HK$2,000.
This year will be the first time that cash prizes will be awarded to winners in the four major races: the International Open Grand Championship, the International Championship, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Championship, and the Hong Kong Championship. First-place winners in each category stand to win US$10,000 (HK$78,000).
Another highlight of the event is the fancy dress competition, which is open to teams that participate in any race. Costume designs must be submitted for approval by May 31.
The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races coincide with the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on June 22 this year. The festival traditionally highlights dragon boat racing as a symbol of the culmination of several practices to drive away evil energy and invite clean energy into one’s life.
Header image credits: bfatphoto via Flickr
