2007 Dragon Boat Races / 愛河畔 慶端午 賞龍舟
◎Text by Ya-ting Hou ◎Photos by Chung-hui Pao
Many consider watching the dragon boat races along the Love River, which standing amidst on a hot summer day, as the best way to experience the essence of the Dragon Boat Festival. During the days of summer, the heat seems fueled to intensity among the competitors. Nothing could compare with the excitement of watching the dragon boat racing against each other. This year, the number of the competitors had reached a new peak-150 teams participated in the races.
The racing time of dragon boats had been extended from the day time to the night time. Since dragon boat is being listed as one of the performance category for the 2009 World Games, the city government adapted the rules of dragon boat races . In the categories of dragon boat races not only requested much more sophisticated maneuvre than the oriental traditional dragon boat; it also requested higher challenge for the athletes. Thus, it drew huge crowds to appreciate the competition. Spectators experienced the different atmosphere of the Love River by watching the day time and night time dragon boat races.
Spectators could choose to watch the dragon boat races during the day or the oriental, traditional dragon boat races at night. 4,709 athletics, divided into 23 categories, enthusiastically participated. There were 107 teams that competed in the dragon boat category, and there were 43 teams that competed in the oriental, traditional dragon boat races. Among those talented competitors, the Naval Academy won both the male-only and college male-only categories. They also won the grand prize of NT $36,000. In the ladies' catergory, She-Te High School won both the female-only and the senior high school categories.
Apart from the dragon boat races, the city government had offered a series of activities, including traditional puppet performances, an aboriginal dance display, well a cheerleader performance and as well as the World Games promotional area, in order to celebrate the joyousness of the Dragon Boat Festival.
◎文／王大衛 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
「2007高雄市ㄍㄚˋ龍舟慶端午」龍舟競賽活動於6月16日至6月19日一連4天在愛河熱鬧登場。今年共有150隊參加比賽，舉辦規模為歷年最大、參賽隊數也創新高，陳菊市長並親臨現場擊鼓，為龍舟選手歡呼加油。
19日一連4天在愛河熱鬧登場。今年共有150隊參加比賽，舉辦規模為歷年最大、參賽隊數也創新高，陳菊市長並親臨現場擊鼓，為龍舟選手歡呼加油。
今年龍舟競賽一改以往白天舉辦之外並擴大於夜間舉行，除了有傳承民俗的夜間傳統龍舟競賽之外，特別將2009世界運動會表演賽項目中的競技龍舟納入今年的龍舟活動中。競技龍舟操舟的難度高，對選手的挑戰性也相對提高，觀賞的精采度更高，競爭激烈甚於往年，現場吸引許多民眾親自到愛河畔觀賞，感受日、夜愛河龍舟競賽截然不同的風貌和樂趣。
今年龍舟參賽隊伍分為日間競技龍舟(107隊)及夜間民俗龍舟(43隊)兩大類參賽人數4709人，共分23組進行，參賽隊伍實力都在伯仲之間。在競技龍舟部分，由海軍官校擊敗眾多參加隊伍，風光拿下公開男子組及大專男子組的雙料冠軍，贏得36萬總獎金，為今年高雄市龍舟賽的大贏家；而樹德家商則拿下公開女子組暨高中職女子組雙料冠軍。
另外，市政府亦規劃許多端午節系列活動，包括：2007打狗團仔仙拼仙團隊匯演、傳統雜技、原住民舞蹈、啦啦隊表演、世運項目體驗活動等，與民眾共同歡渡端午佳節。