Dragon boat, voluntarily organised by the community, was not an annual event in Macau’s pre-1979. Since then however, the activity has been promoted as an annual international dragon boat race. Athletic teams from different countries are invited to Macau to participate in this sports event enriched with traditional features. Dragon boat teams from Hong Kong, Japan, the U.S., the Philippines, China, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Australia and Europe frequently participate in the races.
Since the founding of the Macau Special Administrative Region, the Macao International Dragon Boat Races have been jointly organised by the Sports Bureau and Macau China Dragon Boat Association. While dragon boating is a widely popular festive activity in Macau during the Dragon Boat Festival, the Macao International Dragon Boat Races have grown to become an important sports event in the territory. Year by year, the event has become larger in scale and attracts an increasing number of participants. Thousands of skilled athletes from home and abroad gather annually in Macau to participate in this significant event. In 2001, the International University Student Dragon Boat races for men and women were included in the programme.
In the past, the races primarily took place on Nam Van and Sai Van Lakes. Since its establishment, the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre has become an ideal competition venue for the competition.
When: June 1, 2 and 7, 2019
Where: Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Lago Nam Van, Macau
How much: Free admission
For more information, check their website