190 teams set to race in Hong Kong's biggest dragon boat event since 2019
About 4,500 athletes from 190 teams across 12 countries are set to compete in the upcoming Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, following a series of pre-event activities that will include a food market and a pop-up store.
The event will be the largest since Covid-19 affected the city, although it remains significantly smaller than pre-pandemic editions.
The Tourism Board said on Tuesday that the 2025 edition of the 'Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races' would take place from June 7 to 8.
Participants representing 190 teams from 12 countries would take part in 19 races, including local and mainland Chinese groups as well as those from the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the board added.
The event will also welcome participants from Qatar and Egypt for the first time.
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'We have taken innovation to new heights this year by transforming the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races into an immersive day-and-night dragon boat carnival,' said Tourism Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat.
'The event offers visitors and locals a blend of cultural activities and celebrations steeped in Hong Kong's East-meets-West heritage, enriching the city's potential for mega-event tourism.'
The races will build upon the momentum of earlier festivities, starting May 31, when a 'Dragon Boat Food Lane' will launch at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui and run for nine consecutive days, offering a variety of Dragon Boat Festival-themed snacks such as rice dumplings, boat-shaped iced treats and drinks.
The food market will open daily from 1pm to 10pm.
A panda-themed pop-up store selling souvenirs and a photo spot, featuring the city's six pandas living at Ocean Park, will also be set up on the launch day.
The 'Mixed Championship' event of the 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races. Photo: Dickson Lee
Throughout the race days, flash mobs of acrobatic performances by Cirque du Soleil will take place at Avenue of Stars and the Urban Council Centenary Garden, while a beer garden will also be set up in the area from 2pm to 10pm, offering four varieties of draught beer for spectators.
Tourists can redeem a voucher for one complimentary beer by visiting designated Tourism Board visitor centres or at a collection point at the East Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
In 2023 and 2024, the event featured about 170 teams and around 4,000 athletes – significantly fewer than in pre-Covid years, with 272 teams joining in 2019 and 269 in 2018. Each of those two pre-pandemic editions welcomed about 6,000 competitors.
'Looking ahead, we will continue to build closer partnerships with the business community to drive the success of such events and unlock even greater economic benefits for our city,' Cheng said on Tuesday.
The event will also have new additions this year, such as a Secondary Schools Championship and a Disciplinary Forces Championship, which the board said was aimed at engaging young people and various community groups in the tradition of dragon boat racing.
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