The 2026 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup & Yuanling Traditional Dragon Boat Race kicked off in Yuanling. (Photo/Pan Yu)

On the morning of September 25, the 2026 ICF Dragon Boat World Cup & Yuanling Traditional Dragon Boat Race kicked off in Yuanling. Wei Zhaohui, secretary of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee, annouced the opening of the event. Lu Weihong, chair of the Dragon Boat Committee of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), delivered a speech. He Hongyu, firstlevel inspector with the Mass Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport of China, and Wu Hui, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and chairperson of the Hunan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, were present. Luo Yuelong, member of the Party Leadership Group and deputy directorgeneral of Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau, addressed the gathering. Gao Jingsheng, deputy secretary of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee and Acting Mayor, delivered welcoming address. He Zunqing, deputy secretary of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee and secretary of the Municipal Politics and Law Commission, presided over the opening ceremony. Li Wanqian, director of the Standing Committee of the Huaihua Municipal People’s Congress, together with municipal leaders Hu Chen, Huang Jianxin, Wu Hanming, Xiang Rulian, Zeng Wenqian and Liu Xiaoming, attended the event.

In his address, Lu Weihong said that hosting this international Alevel dragon boat event in Yuanling is recognition of Yuanling’s inheritance of dragonboat culture and a wonderful integration of timehonoured dragonboat heritage and modern sports. He expressed confidence that over the next three days, the Yuan River will witness fleets of dragon boats racing amid resounding drumbeats, and the hospitality of local Yuanling residents will leave precious memories for every guest travelling from afar.

Luo Yuelong noted that the ICF Dragon Boat World Cup is the highestcalibre competition for dragonboat sport. It serves not only as an athletic arena but also a showcase for traditional Chinese dragonboat culture. Seizing the opportunity presented by the World Cup, we will help more people appreciate the allure of dragon boating, further boost our strengths in dragonboat and other water sports, advance dragon boating toward Olympic inclusion at an early date, and contribute to building China into a leading sporting nation.

On behalf of the Huaihua Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, Gao Jingsheng extended a warm welcome to athletes, distinguished guests and friends from all walks of life. “We foster tourism through sports events and highlight cultural heritage via tourism,” he remarked. “We strive to turn this competition into a new platform for Huaihua to advance the indepth integration of culture, tourism and sports and fuel highquality development. It will also mark a fresh starting point for Huaihua to broaden openingup and embrace the world. We will fully demonstrate the charm of Chinese civilisation, the dynamism of Hunan and the hospitality of Huaihua. Racing sidebyside in dragon boats, pulling together as one and riding the waves in pursuit of shared dreams, we will jointly sparkle with mutual learning among civilisations where diverse cultures flourish sidebyside.”

A performance featuring traditional dragonboat culture was staged during the opening ceremony. After the ceremony, participants visited Yuanling’s agritainment market showcasing intangible cultural heritage, creative handicrafts and local delicacies, as well as the 2026 National Fitness Culture Promotion Campaign (Yuanling, Hunan) — Rivers Stretching for Thousands of Li, Competitions Resounding Through Ages: Exhibition of Traditional Chinese Sports Culture. A gala themed “Dragon Boat World Cup Night” was held on the night of September 24.

This is the first time Hunan Province hosts an international Alevel dragonboat event. It brings together 24 teams comprising over 500 athletes from 16 countries and regions worldwide. The competition boasts a rich and varied programme covering multiple categories for 8paddler and 10paddler dragon boats, with sprint races over 200 m, 500 m and 2000 m. A 14kilometre dragonboat marathon has been innovatively introduced for the first time, striking a fine balance between international competitive standards and the distinctive features of local traditional dragonboat customs.

(Translated by Tian Xia)