奧運前景
(2) -
國際龍舟界電郵通訊
Olympic
Prospects (2)
- from DB E-group News
subject: [dragonboats] db news
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 18:51:52 -0000
From: dragonboat@alvin.org
Reply-To: dragonboats-owner@yahoogroups.com
To: dragonboats@yahoogroups.com
國際龍舟聯合會秘書長致國際獨木舟聯合會各代表的公開信
open letter from Mason Hung, Secretary General
- International Dragon Boat Federation
(2000-5-3 )
3 May 2000
To: All ICF Delegates
From: Mason Hung
Secretary General - International Dragon Boat Federation
Subject: Dragon Boat Racing
Dear Delegates
As the Secretary General of the International Dragon Boat
Federation
(IDBF), I am surprised to learn from my fellow colleagues in IDBF
that the International Canoe Federation (ICF) still claims that
dragon
boating, an independent sport, is part of canoeing.
It is in fact highlighted by our President Liu Ji in his letter
to you
that dragon boating has a history of over 2000 years in China.
Dragon boating is very much part of the Chinese culture. It is
strongly and
deeply linked with our culture and tradition not only in China
but
also in Chinese communities all over the world. Its popularity is
well demonstrated by the widespread celebrations and
participation by
not only the Chinese communities but by all nationalities all
over the world.
Apart from history and tradition, dragon boating is no longer a
festive event but rather a competitive sport widely practiced
regardless of their geographical location or nationalities.
With the staging and active promotion of international dragon
boat
racing pioneered by Hong Kong, China back in 1976, it laid the
foundation of competitive dragon boat racing in the global
sporting
arena. The establishment of the IDBF in 1991 with the
headquarters
based in Hong Kong, China signified the formalization of the
sport
with establishment of national controlling bodies, standardized
rules
of racing, guidelines on umpiring, format of racing and standard
racing equipment. In a nutshell, dragon boat racing fulfilled all
requirements and criteria of a sport.
?Page 2
3 May 2000
Page 2
Dragon Boat Racing
Under the leadership of the IDBF as well as her continental
federations, world championships and continental championships
have
been organized and widely participated by their member countries
and
regions since the First World Championships held in Yueyang,
China in
1995. These Championships were being organized in a very well
defined
format offering opportunities to all member controlling bodies
with a
fare competition under different racing classes and distances.
Apart from the history of IDBF, I would also like to draw
attention of
the delegates to the letter sent by our Executive President to
the
Director General of General Association of International Sports
Federations (GAISF) dated 29 April (copy attached). In his
letter,
the detailed analysis on the GAISF Statutes and Bye-Laws
indicated
that both canoeing and dragon boat racing should be respected as
a
sport of its own right.
I trust you will also all agree that dragon boat racing, an
independent sport, is a well-developed and widely practiced
sport.
Its development, supported by all national controlling bodies and
national Olympic committees, is progressing and moving along a
very
healthy path.
With the above, I sincerely hope that you could respect what we
have
accomplished in promoting and developing the sport of dragon boat
racing.
Best regards,
Mason Hung
Secretary General
c.c.: Mr. Liu Ji, President, IDBF
Mr. R L Wilson, Founder President, IDBF
Mr. Tim Fok, President, Sports Federation & Olympic Committee
of Hong Kong, China
Mr. Andrew Ma, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Sports Development
Board
Alvin's View as an paddler 2002/8
