On local time February 9th, the World Ice Dragon Boat Club Championships (WCCIC), hosted by the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation (IIDBF),

 co-organized by Winterlude (Ottawa Winter Festival) and the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival Organizing Committee, and specially supported by the Chinese 

Embassy in Canada, grandly kicked off in Ottawa, Canada. Essential leaders, including Luo Zhongyi, President of the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation, 

Mike Thomas, President of the International Dragon Boat Federation, Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, Laura Dudas, Deputy Mayor of Ottawa, and 

John Brooman, CEO of the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, attended the opening ceremony.

As the largest and most influential global ice dragon boat event in 2019, this year's championship has attracted eight national teams from China, the United 

Kingdom, Ireland, Ukraine, New Zealand, the United States, South Korea and Canada, as well as a total of 125 dragon boat teams from California, Georgia, 

Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont (the United States), and Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Yukon (Canada).

The traditional "eye-dotting" ceremony and Sino-Canadian characteristic performances have interpreted the value and connotation of the perfect integration

 of Chinese dragon culture and Canadian ice-snow culture.

 The competition scene is enthusiastic—listen to the sound of metal colliding with the ice, and feel the speed and passion of competitive sports.

Gathering elites, the fantastic event has grandly started. From February 7th to 10th (local time), the World Ice Dragon Boat Club

 Championships are in full swing. For event details, exciting highlights, and behind-the-scenes stories, the IIDBF will continue to 

report for you, so stay tuned!