Dragon Boat World Championships at Beetzsee: 4,600 athletes fight for the title!

Dragon Boat World Championships at Beetzsee: 4,600 athletes fight for the title!

A spectacular sporting event has opened its doors in Brandenburg an der Havel: The 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, which will take place from July 14th. This championship brings together more than 4,600 athletes from 33 nations, making it the largest sporting event in the history of the Dragon Boat World Championships. The event is organized on the popular Beetzsee regatta course, where all preparations have been made since the beginning of 2022. “We worked closely with the International Dragon Boat Federation and the German Dragon Boat Association,” said Michael Kenzler, the second chairman of the Brandenburg Beetzsee e.V. regatta team, in an interview with brandenburger-regatten.de.

The number of participants is impressive: the 4,650 athletes include around 3,500 active participants, 500 juniors and 700 supporters. The largest team comes from the USA and includes an impressive 850 members. Canada (548 participants), Australia (334) and China (307) also have large delegations. Germany is represented by 436 athletes and the championships offer a total of 161 competitions in two different boat classes – Standard Boat and High Performance Racing Small Boat. Teams compete in seven age groups, which also include Para categories and a BCP class, making the event particularly inclusive.

A spectacular supporting program

The competitions begin on July 14th at 12 p.m., after a ceremonial opening ceremony at 6 p.m. during which the delegations of participants march in. Michael Kenzler highlights the experience of the organizing team, which has successfully mastered many large dragon boat events. “The trust in our committed team is high,” continued Kenzler. Races will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the closing ceremony will take place on July 20 at 7 p.m. The technical and logistical conditions on the regatta course are described as excellent, which only increases the anticipation for the events.

Another exciting topic is the July rain, which may cause the soil and plants to recover. Weather experts know that this weather situation could have a positive impact on the preparations of many athletes and the event as a whole. A balanced weather is important not only for the participants, but also for the numerous spectators who are looking forward to the exciting racing days.

Anticipation and support

The organizing committee also thanked the city of Brandenburg an der Havel for their support. Mayor Steffen Scheffel and Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke have pledged their support, which gives the athletes the feeling of being in a welcoming and supportive environment. These events are more than just competitions - they offer an opportunity to bring cities and people together and celebrate the joy of sport, according to a statement from drachenboot.de.

Overall, athletes and spectators alike are looking forward to this mega event, which puts not only the dragon boat community but also the city of Brandenburg an der Havel at the center of international sport. So everyone has to take advantage of the opportunity and be there to experience the fascination and team spirit of this impressive sport up close!