Milan, August 31, 2012 – For the first time in the history of Dragon Boat, Milan, Italy hosted the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships by Milan’s Idroscalo Club which is one of the most prestigious clubs in Italy. The Idroscalo Club is internationally renowned, and is the largest dragon boat club in the world.
The event started yesterday (Thursday) August 30th and will last until September 2. The Championship is hosting as many as 1,800 best dragon boaters from 25 countries including the Philippine Dragon Boat Team, and other top Dragon Boat teams from Canada, Hungary, andGermanyto compete at the biggest Dragon Boat competition in the world.
“If the conditions are right, our Men’s and Mixed Crews in the 10-man and 20-man 200 and 500-meter distances have a good chance of bringing home a medal, possibly even gold,” said Assistant National Coach Arnold Laureano of the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation, in a news release of Idroscalo club. “Because of our height and size, our rowers are traditionally in the short distances. After more than a month of intense training, we are not in the tapering off.”
The Philippine Dragon Boat Teamwill be one of the most experienced team. They took home the gold medal in the recently concluded South East Asian Games 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In June 2012, they have won four (4) medals in the Asian Beach Games in China, back to back with a Gold medal from the International Race in Taiwan.
All kababayans and friends are invited to support and watch the races of the Philippine Team at Idroscalo Lake.
August 31, Friday
11:40 AM Men's Semifinals
1:30 PM Mixed Long Boat Semifinals
3:20 PM Men's Grand Finals
4:10 PM Mixed Long Boat Grand Finals
4:50 PM Mixed Short Boat Grand Finals
