The team from Guangzhou won at the first Darwin International Dragon Boat Festival in Australia after rounds of competitions last Sunday, promoting sports and cultural exchanges between Australian and Chinese cities.
(Team Guangzhou wins dragon boat race in Australia’s Darwin/photo provided to GDToday)
The team was organized by Guangzhou’s Nansha District and consisted of 14 members, according to Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office (GZFAO).
Hosted by the City of Darwin, its friendship cities and friendly cities around the world were invited to join the event. Three Australian teams and two Chinese teams participated in the 200m race at Darwin Waterfront.
Cultural performances such as Hanfu (traditional styles of clothing worn by the Han Chinese) performance, Taichi performance, lion dance, and waist drum performance were presented during the event.
Xiao Qian, Chinese Ambassador to Australia, said that as the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, the event was a good chance for more Darwin people and tourists to know more about Chinese culture.
Xiao stated Darwin has deepened its friendship and friendly city relationship with Chinese cities such as Guangzhou and Qingdao in recent years, and has maintained exchanges in economy, trade, culture, tourism, education and sports. He said these local exchanges are an important foundation for the friendship between the two countries.
Kon Vatskalis, Lord Mayor of Darwin, said that as a traditional event in China, the dragon boat race has become very popular in Darwin. He indicated that the Darwin International Trade Show was also held on June 5.
"It's an outdoor sport. It's a water sport, teamwork, and very popular with the women," said John Holland, Chair of the Australian Dragon Boat Federation. He introduced that the sport is loved in the country. More than seven and a half thousand people take part in dragon boat races regularly every year in Australia.
According to GZFAO, Guangzhou and Darwin became friendship cities in 2019.
Reporter丨Nina
Editor丨Wing, Steven, Jasmine, James
