Amidst the ice and snow, we celebrate the Year of the Dragon; indulging in the mountains and seas, we revel to our hearts' content. On January 15th, the 7th Jinzhou Marine Ice and Snow Festival & 2023-2024 Ice Dragon Boat Super League (Jinzhou Stop) was grandly launched at Jinzhou Oriental Huadi City.
This event is hosted by the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau, the CPC Jinzhou Municipal Committee, and the Jinzhou Municipal People's Government; undertaken by the Jinzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Film and Television (Sports Bureau), the CPC Linghai Municipal Committee, the Linghai Municipal People's Government, and Jinzhou Huadi Construction Group Co., Ltd.; guided by the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation (IIDBF); and operated by Dalian Qianlong Water Sports Development Co., Ltd. Important leaders attended the opening ceremony, including Liu Weicai, Party Secretary and Director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism; Cao Yang, Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Liaoning Provincial Sports Bureau; Li Wanhong, Deputy Director of the Liaoning Provincial Radio and Television Bureau; Liu Kewu, Secretary of the CPC Jinzhou Municipal Committee; Yang Weixin, Director of the Standing Committee of the Jinzhou Municipal People's Congress; Han Tong, Chairman of the Jinzhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; and Luo Zhongyi, President of the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation (IIDBF).
The competition is divided into two groups: the Open Group and the Local Group, with two events—100m and 200m straight-track races for 12-person ice dragon boats. Twenty-seven teams from Beijing, Guangdong, Shijiazhuang, Dalian, and local Jinzhou, consisting of over 300 athletes, participated.
At the opening ceremony, Luo Zhongyi, President of the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation (IIDBF), delivered a speech. Liu Kewu, Secretary of the CPC Jinzhou Municipal Committee, announced the opening. The segment where leaders and guests performed the "dragon eye-dotting" ritual pushed the on-site atmosphere to a climax, immersing all attending guests and tourists in the poetry and romance of the ice and snow.
Speech by Luo Zhongyi, President of the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation (IIDBF)
Leaders performing the "dragon eye-dotting" ritual
At the referee's order, dragon boats dashed off the starting line like arrows off a bow, racing against each other on the ice. During the competition, the audience's cheers resounded through the sky, and the drums and shouts were passionate and melodious. With hundreds of paddles moving in unison and ice splashing everywhere, the ice dragon boat race showcased the power of teamwork and unyielding will, depicting figures striving forward courageously and playing an exciting movement.
Ice dragon boating is an innovation and extension of the traditional dragon boat sport. It retains the skill and competitiveness of conventional dragon boating, breaks the seasonal limitations of the sport, and is more full of speed and passion. It is a brand-new ice sport integrating competitiveness, teamwork, and entertainment. In recent years, due to its strong public participation, high ornamental value, and rich Chinese traditional cultural characteristics, ice dragon boating has been widely popular in many countries and cities across Asia, North America, and Europe.
The 2023-2024 Ice Dragon Boat Super League has a wide radiation range and significant influence. The event covers the "Three Provinces and One Region"—Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Participating athletes come from across the country and northern border countries, and the league adopts a multi-stop competition mode. Four stops have been held in Xilingol, Qitaihe, Jingpo Lake, and Jinzhou. The next stop will be held in Dalian, Liaoning, on January 26th. Don't miss out on more exciting moments!
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