TEXAS
DRAGON BOAT ASSOCIATION
KICKS OFF 2005 SEASON WITH 5th
ANNUAL
HOUSTON
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
HOUSTON
,
TEXAS
- On May 7, 2005, the
Texas
Dragon
Boat Association (TDBA) brings “the second
most popular paddle sport in the world” (Paddler
Magazine)
to
Houston
. To start the 2005 season the 5th
annual
Houston
Dragon Boat Festival will be held at Allen's
Landing downtown.
The
Festival features teams of 20 paddlers, a
drummer
and a steersman which race down a 250-meter
stretch
of water in competition for the revered
“Dragon Cup.”
Participants and spectators of the free
public event
celebrate Asian culture including food,
music and entertainment.
"
Houston
has the most incredible events, and the
Dragon
Boat Festival is among the most unique.
In addition to
showcasing
Asian traditions and the sport of dragon
boat racing, we also have the opportunity to
showcase
Buffalo Bayou and the progress, which has
been made
on our waterfront. I would not want to
live and work anywhere
else.
Houston
truly is rich in its multicultural
attractions,"
stressed G. J. "Jordy" Tollett,
CEO and President of the Greater
Houston
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The
Texas Dragon Boat Association is a
Texas
non-profit
corporation established to promote the
tradition and sport
of dragon boating, to increase awareness of
Asian and Asian
American culture, and enhance cross-cultural
understanding.
Since
2001, the Festival has grown from 8 to 27
teams, with
an estimated 3000 participants and
spectators from myriad
cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
The
appeal of dragon boat racing has spread well
beyond its
origins in
China
. From
Canada
to
Germany
to
South Africa
,
more
than 30 countries hold internationally
recognized races.
The
Texas Dragon Boat Association is currently
seeking
sponsors, teams, and volunteers for
the May 7, 2005
Houston
Dragon Boat Festival and the October 22-23,
2005
Gulf
Coast
International Regatta and
United States
Dragon Boat Associations
Central Regional Championship. For
information, please contact
TDBA Executive Director Dr. Caroline Long at
832-687-7208; or
visit the TDBA website at www.texasdragonboat.com.
HISTORY
Dragon
boat racing began in
China
circa 277 B.C., in honor of
Qu
(chew) Yuan, a famous scholar of the Chinese
dynasty. Fallen
from the kings favor, the shamed and
devastated Qu Yuan threw
himself into the Mi Lo River. The Chinese
people grieved at Yuan’s
death and spent many days paddling their
colorful fishing boats in
the river searching for him, loudly beating
drums. Unable to find
Qu
Yuan, the people wrapped rice dumplings in
bamboo leaves
and tossed them into the water to distract
the fish from his remains.
The Chinese people's boats were colorfully
decorated with dragon
heads to scare spirits away; and thus, began
the tradition of dragon
boat racing.
EVENT
FACT SHEET
THE
EVENT - 5th
Annual Dragon Boat Festival
Texas
Dragon Boat Association (TDBA) brings “the
second most popular paddle sport in the
world”
(Paddler
Magazine) to
Houston
via its fifth annual
Houston
Dragon Boat Festival. This year, the
festival
will
serve to kick off the season.
DATES
–
May
7, 2005 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LOCATION
– The festival is held at Allen's Landing
on
Buffalo Bayou in downtown
Houston
.
ANTICIPATED
ATTENDANCE – 4000
(based on
prior
years and registered team members
PURPOSE
- The Festival features teams of 20
paddlers,
a
drummer and a steersman which race down a
250-meter
stretch of water in competition for the
revered “Dragon Cup.”
Participants
and spectators of the FREE public event
celebrate Asian culture including food,
music and
entertainment.
PRODUCED
BY
– The
Texas
Dragon Boat Association
is
a
Texas
non-profit corporation established to
promote
the sport and tradition of dragon boating,
to enhance
awareness of Asian and Asian American
culture, and
enhance cross-cultural understanding.
ADDITIONAL
DRAGON BOAT EVENTS
The
2nd Annual
Gulf
Coast
International Regatta will conclude the
season
on
October 22-23, 2005. The TDBA will
hold the Regatta
with the Midwest Regional Championships in
conjunction
with the American Dragon Boat Association in
Bay Area
Houston
.
CONTACT
– Executive Director Dr. Caroline Long at
(832) 687-7208
Vendors/Volunteer
Information: Annabelle Ruch
(832)
771-7661 akruch@aol.com
Or
visit the TDBA website at
http://www.texasdragonboat.com
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