It’s all systems go for the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat World Championships, which start at the Baywalk here Thursday.
A total of 1,400 athletes will compete in the four-day tournament featuring 52 events.
Host Philippines has the biggest number of entries with 200, followed by India (140), Thailand (87), Singapore (74), Iran (63), Ukraine (30), USA (30), and China (18).
Also participating in the tournament, which serves as a qualifying competition for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, are Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Hungary, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Poland, Russia, Spain, South Korea, and Sweden.
“This tournament is very important as it serves as qualifying for the World Games next year and it also promotes the sport in the Philippines,” International Canoe Federation (ICF) president Thomas Konietzko said during a press conference at the HUE Hotel on Wednesday.
ICF Dragon Boat Committee chairman Dr. Wai-Hung Luk, Philippine Canoe Kayak & Dragon Federation (PCKDF) president Leonora Escollante, Mayor Lucilo Bayron, and the members of Team Philippines also attended the press conference.
The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to host the World Championships in dragon boat. It has staged the Asian Championships in 2016.
“It is an honor for Puerto Princesa to host this world-class competition. We thank the ICF and the PCKDF for trusting us,” Bayron said.
After the World Championships, the city will host the Batang Pinoy National Finals next month and the BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games in December.
“We are on the right track to focus on sports tourism,” Bayron said.
Escollante said the Filipino paddlers have been training here since Sept. 26 and they have a good chance.
“They are familiar with the race course and I know they will do their best in the competition,” she said. (PNA)