2008 Kaohsiung Dragon Boat Racing / 2008高雄龍舟賽
2008 Kaohsiung Dragon Boat Racing
◎Text by Fu-Ju Lin
◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
The Dragon Boat Racing at Love River this year was all about the World Games. There were great races, plus exhibitions and activities related to the World Games, which attracted colossal crowds. Dragon boat racing is an invitational competition for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung. As a result, the scale of the Kaohsiung dragon boat racing this year was enlarged with a total of 136 teams participating in the competition.
This year, the event was given the motto "Embrace Happiness in Kaohsiung; Enjoy Vitality for the Dragon Boat Festival". The eye-dotting ceremony signifies a turning stage for advancing toward a bright future just as an insect reaching out from pupa or humans striving toward a greater accomplishment. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Mayor Ren-Yih Lin on May 15. This ceremony is viewed as an offering to the River God, praying for successful races. Deputy Mayor Lin led the eye-dotting representatives to "open" the eyes of 22 dragon boats as painted eyes bring life to the dragon boats.
The racing, which was scheduled to take place for four days from June 5 to June 8, was postponed for one day due to heavy rain. It was held at Love River in front of the Music Center. The delay did not extinguish the contestants' enthusiasm and participants were eager to out-cheer other teams by supporting their teams vocally. Mayor Chu Chen also attended the opening ceremony to support all the racing teams.
In addition to the exciting dragon boat races, there were a variety of events along Love River, including "The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung Promotion Area", fashion display of "The 2009 World Games Kaohsiung Creative Fashion Design Contest", "Water skiing Show" performed by Chang Jung Christian University, "Parachute Jumping Show" sponsored by Aero Sport Association, "Creative Fashion Show" presented by National Ping Tung University of Science & Technology, and more. These events provided a diverse experience for visitors.
Of the 136 teams participating in the Kaohsiung Dragon Boat Racing this year, 82 teams competed in the Speed Paddling category and 54 teams in the traditional dragon boat category, with a total of 21 games. The awards were increased to NT$350,000 for the Men's Championship and NT$120,000 for the Women's Championship. The winners will represent Kaohsiung City at the "2008 Public Games". After three days of cut-throat racing, Paris International Improvement Corporation captured the Men's Championship and Lin Yuan Senior High School pocketed the Women's Championship. Both teams were awarded with statuettes and monetary prizes.
While presiding over the closing ceremony, Mayor Chen Chu encouraged teams from all over the island to participate in the next Kaohsiung Dragon Boat Racing. Next year, the championship awards will be even higher. Based on the gender equality concept, the Women's Championship awards will be increased to the same amount as the Men's Championship. She will also consider putting together a city government women's dragon boat team. Her remarks received a big applause from the attendees. Next year, an even better Dragon Boat Racing competition is expected. It is without a doubt that dragon boat racing will become one of the most spectacular sports in the 2009 World Games.
2008高雄龍舟賽
◎文／王御風
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
今年愛河龍舟賽很「世運」，除了激列精采的賽況，週邊還有許多世運展覽體驗活動，深受民眾歡迎。由於明（2009）年在高雄市舉辦的世界運動會中，龍舟賽更被列為2009年高雄世運的邀請賽，因此今年高雄市龍舟比賽特別擴大舉行，共有136隊參加，激烈的競賽吸引了許多民眾觀賞。
今年龍舟賽命名為「幸福高雄‧活力端午」，點睛儀式於５月15日由副市長林仁益主持，本屆點睛活動以「關告河神」為主軸，以祈求大會賽程圓滿順利。林副市長率領點睛官，分別為22艘龍舟點睛，龍舟因點睛而栩栩如生、更加傳神。
本屆正式比賽原訂６月５日至８日一連四天，在音樂館前愛河舉行。但因大雨順延一天，但仍不減參賽者的踴躍，選手們並在會場競相高喊精神隊呼，較勁意味十足。市長陳菊也出席開幕儀式，為選手們加油打氣！
在競賽期間，除了河上有激烈的龍舟賽外，在愛河兩岸還有「2009高雄世運推廣區」、「愛河周邊系列活動」、「2009世運在高雄創意服裝設計比賽」服裝作品展示秀、長榮大學「花式滑水表演」、飛行委員會的「跳傘表演」、屏科大的「創意服裝秀」等等，豐富多元，更讓來參觀龍舟賽的市民享受不同的視覺饗宴。
今年的高雄市龍舟賽，今年共有136隊參加，競爭相當激烈。其中：競技龍舟82隊、傳統龍舟54隊，分21組較勁，獎金更提高為公開男子組冠軍隊，優勝獎金提高為35萬元，女子組提高為12萬元同時，公開組冠軍隊伍，將代表高雄市參加今年的「全民運動會龍舟賽」。經過三天的激烈競賽，最後由巴黎開發有限公司奪得公開男子組冠軍、林園高中獲得公開女子組冠軍，捧回獎盃與優厚的獎金。
主持閉幕典禮的市長陳菊表示，為鼓勵各地好手都能來到高雄參加龍舟賽，明年端午龍舟賽不但冠軍獎金加碼；同時基於兩性平等，公開女子組冠軍獎金將提高比照公開男子組冠軍辦理，同時，她也考慮組成市府女子隊一起參賽同樂，贏得現場所有選手不斷「叫好」，更讓人對明年高雄市的端午龍舟賽，充滿了期待，也相信在2009世運會上，龍舟賽將是最引人注目的比賽項目之一。