The sport of dragon boat racing will be at the center stage right here in the Philippines come November.

To be exact, the event is the 2024 International Canoe Federation( ICF) Dragon Boat World Championships to be held in Puerto Princesa in Palawan with more than 30 countries expected to participate in various 200m., 500m. and 2000m. distance races using both 10 seater and 20 seater boats.

It is organized by the Philippine Canoe Kayak & Dragonboat Federation( PCKDF), headed by Len Escollante with whom I have lost contact for a long time as our paths never met since maybe more than 30 years ago.

I just got in touch with her anew here at the Philippine Sports Commission(PSC) when we were discussing over the phone the donation of a dragon boat to the Iloilo National High School, and later on she already extended an invitation for that world championship event in Puerto Princesa where PBBM has been invited as the special guest of honor.

N The good thing, last Wednesday, she was in the vicinity and dropped by our office for an overdue chat about the event.

She says confirned already to join are 28 countries , mostly coming from Asia including Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Macau, Hong Kong, Chinese-Taipei, and Thailand with even Nepal and Sri Lanka as possible joiners.

From Europe, she mentioned France, Spain, and the Czech Republic plus Canada and the USA, not surprising really considering that there are are more than 50 categories to be contested in the men’s, women’ s, open, mixed, junior, and even for those above 40 and 50 years old..

An interesting sidelight, Ukraine and Russia are sending representatives too, the two countries are presently at war, but she clarified it is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Russia and not Russia which is competing, no mention of Russia will be included.

But of course, the centerpiece events are the mixed 10 seater 200m., the 10 seater 500m., abd the 20 seater 2000m. distance races as they are qualifying events for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, the first tine that dragon boatracing will be included in the World Games.

Would you believe in 2018 in Georgia when we sent participants to this World Championship event, Len related we went home with 5 golds, 2 silvers, and 2 bronzes.

So I asked her what our athletes’ chances are this time, and she was optimistic that we will contend in the the same events where we went home with medals in 2018, plus in the seniors events, the 40 plus and the 50 plus.

I also posed the question of the status of dragon boat racing is in the country, if it has been growing or not the past years.

Again, she was upbeat about the future and the sport’s expansion of its base, she cited the places which are already established dragon boat areas with existing clubs, these are Calbayog in Samar, San Miguel in Leyte, Paoay Lakes in Ilocos, and in Puerto Princesa.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled on October 31 though the participants have been advised to arrive earlier to have time to familiarize thenselves with local conditions, something that our athletes will have the edge.

A day earlier a welcome dinner, the Mayor’s Night, will be held for all the participants and officials , with the competitions extending all the way to November 3.

Of course I am looking forward to being there with Fritz and hopefully, touch base with motocross legend Butch Chase who has long made Puerto Princesa his home , i have tried his restaurant there in the distant past and it is time to revisit the place.

See you people there.

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Lito Cinco