Dragon Boats from China are being delivered to Gainesville in preparation for the Dragon Boat World Championships.
The Dragon Boat World Championships are coming to Lake Lanier Olympic Park September 13-16. In preparation for the occasion, Gainesville Hall ‘96 purchased multiple fierce and festive boats from China. The Dragon Boats arrived by container ship to the Port of Savannah on Friday, where they were then transported by rail to Atlanta and then a truck will deliver the boats to Lake Lanier Olympic Park on Wednesday, July 18th at 1 p.m.
The boats were manufactured specifically for the World Championships. Athletes will gather to compete in these traditional canoes, adorned with dragon’s heads and tails, dressed in bright colors.
This is the first time North America has hosted the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat Championships. 1,500 athletes from over 25 countries—including the United States, Japan, and Italy will compete at the World Championships at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in September. Team USA will have multiple teams participating in the world tournament.
Dragon Boat racing is the fastest growing watersport in the world, with a 22% increase in festivity participation each year. Around 10,000 spectators are expected to attend the races at Lake Lanier Olympic Park and the estimated economic impact is predicted to be five million dollars to the Gainesville area.
About the Race
LLOP submitted a bid in 2014 to host the event and was selected for a variety of reasons, including having the longest stretch of flat water in the United States. Due to the natural barriers, the Park’s water is known throughout the world as the fairest for athletes and boasts one of the best competition venues for flatwater sports world-wide. Hosting world-class competitions, as well as local and national athletes and teams, this venue and its ideal racing course—with a naturally-flowing straightaway of over 3,000 meters—is a highly desirable location for high-performance training.
Once in the spirit with the Championship’s cultural offerings, spectators will cheer on the colorful competition on the flat waterway. There are two standard size boats. One holds twenty paddlers, a steersman, and a drummer, the other holds ten paddlers, a steersman, and a drummer. At least two boats compete against each other over distances from 200 to 2000 meters and above. Strength, endurance and teamwork are the utmost importance for racers hoping to earn top nods.
Interviews with the coaches and local athletes as they train for this worldwide competition are available.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim O’Dell
Canoe/Kayak/Dragon Boat Coach
Team Building Facilitator
Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club; 2017 Sprint National Champions
Regional and Junior National Coach
Dragon Boat USA; 2014 World Champions
3105 Clarks Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30506 USA
770-287-7888 office
770-561-0382 cell
jim.odell@lckc.org
Robyn Lynch
Robyn@LakeLanierOlympicVenue.org
Lake Lanier Olympic Park
770-535-0397
Origin of Dragon Boat Racing
Dragon Boat Races date back 2,000 years and have origins in an ancient Chinese legend. As the story goes, there was a well-loved patriot poet named Qu Yuan who lived during the 4th century B.C. Although loved by the people, corrupt court officials banished Yuam. Yuam, unable to cope with his sorrow, drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. Local fishermen raced out in their boats in attempt to save him but arrived too late. In order to lure fish away from the body, they beat the water with their paddles and tossed rice dumplings into the river. The dragon boat races are a re-enactment of the attempt to save Qu Yuan and have become a major part of Chinese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity.
About Lake Lanier Olympic Park:
Known as Atlanta’s Hamptons, the Lake Lanier area is an upscale community on the rise, 45 minutes northeast of downtown Atlanta. With its location between the big city and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Lanier also offers easy access to Appalachian culture and attractions.
On the eastern shoreline of Lake Lanier in Hall County, there are 10 full service marinas with year-round access to multiple water sports. The crown jewel of Lake Lanier’s water sport venues is Lake Lanier Olympic Park (LLOP), a world-class sporting and special events facility. Over the past 22 years, the LLOP has hosted prestigious international sporting, civic, social and corporate events, including the 1996 Olympic Games.
Lake Lanier celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Olympic Legacy May 19-22, 2016, when the community played host to the Pan-American Championships for sprint canoe/kayak. This event was the last Continental Olympic Qualifier before The Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together athletes from North, South and Central America for four days of competition.
In September of 2018, Lake Lanier Olympic Park will host the International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships. Athletes from over 25 countries will gather to compete in traditional canoes adorned with dragon’s heads and tails while also celebrating the cultural heritage of this deeply symbolic Asian heritage event. This competition will be the largest world gathering of athletes in the area since the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.
Lake Lanier Olympic Park boasts one of the best competition venues for flatwater sports world-wide. Hosting world-class competitions, as well as local and national athletes and teams, this venue and its ideal racing course—with a naturally-flowing straightaway of over 3,000 meters—is a highly desirable location for high-performance training. The facility also provides recreational opportunities for the region and is a destination point for sports enthusiasts, including paddle boarding, fishing, swimming and other water sports. The boathouse and arena are also available to rent for weddings, festivals, team-building activities, corporate meetings and events.
The natural beauty surrounding Lake Lanier Olympic Park is unmatched by similar centers in the country and serves as a keystone in the community’s recreational offerings.
Beyond experiencing the thrill of the Championships, spectators in the area can also enjoy the attractions, shopping and dining this world-class destination has to offer. As the most visited U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake in the world, Lake Lanier is a natural choice for beaches, boating and other water-based recreational pursuits. The surrounding area, with its Southern and Appalachian heritage, boasts a rich and diverse blend of museums, attractions and annual events that help round out the destination as a year-round choice for travelers. Enjoy zip lines and canopy tours, equestrian trails, hiking and biking while taking in the areas’ farm markets and main street shops. Lanier Islands Resort is the primary lodging destination with hotel, villa, lake house and camping accommodations. Here you’ll find a white sand beach, water park with slides and wave pool, a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, as well as many special events held year-round.