Organized by the Sports Bureau and the Dragon Boat Association of Macao, China, and co-organized by the Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, the Macao International Dragon Boat Races 2021 will be held from 12 to 14 June at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre. The Organizing Committee held a press conference today (23 March) to present the event details to the public, which was attended by Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau; Chung Hon Kun, President of the Dragon Boat Association of Macao, China; Ko Pui San, Head of the Department of Cultural and Recreational Affairs and Civic Education of the Municipal Affairs Bureau; Leong Sio Fong, Head of the Division of Social Welfare for Public Administration of the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau; and Lau Cho Un and Lam Lin Kio, Vice Presidents of the Sports Bureau.

The Macao International Dragon Boat Races 2021 will be held during the Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival), which include small dragon races on 13 June and standard dragon boat races on the day of the Festival (14 June).  As the pandemic situation remains stable in both Mainland China and Macao, the Organizing Committee is planning to invite teams from Mainland China to participate in the Macao Standard Dragon Boat Race (Open Category and Women’s Category), in order to raise the level of competition in the races and intensify the exchange of sporting activities between Mainland China and Macao.  To spice up the atmosphere at the event, a dragon boat themed family carnival will be held this year on 12 June, where the public may enjoy the fun atmosphere through a variety of booth games and activities.

This year’s Races offer limited registration places for six categories, including: Macao Small Dragon Boat Race (48 teams for Open Category, 18 teams for Women’s Category), Macao Public Entities Small Dragon Boat Race (12 teams), Macao University Student Small Dragon Boat Race (8 teams for Open Category) and Macao Standard Dragon Boat Race (30 teams for Open Category and 10 teams for Women’s Category). Interested parties may register in person at the office of the Dragon Boat Association of Macao, China, or online at www.cmdragonboat.org.mo from 25 March until 7pm on 7 April. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all places are filled. The Organizing Committee reminds that registrants should submit the team’s information including name list by 7pm on 10 May. For any changes of team members, registrants should submit the application by 7pm on 18 May and late applications will not be accepted.

To share the festive joy with the public, this year’s event will include not only a dragon boat themed family carnival, but also parade performances and booths for creative products and local cuisine. With the dragon boat races and the carnival, the Organizing Committee believes that visitors will gain an authentic experience of Macao's dragon boat festival celebrations; the event will establish itself as a unique brand of sports tourism in Macao and facilitate the diverse development of the city’s sports sector. 

The Organizing Committee will follow the anti-pandemic guidelines and request participants to show a proof of negative COVID-19 test result, and will make arrangements of COVID-19 test for the participants.  Further details of the arrangement will be announced in due course.  The Organizing Committee would also like to remind all participants that they must comply with Macao’s Law No. 2/2004 on the Prevention, Control and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, pay attention to and cooperate with the anti-pandemic measures of the Macao SAR Government.  In addition, the Organizing Committee will pay close attention to the pandemic situation and will adopt preventive measures and arrangements.  For more information, please visit the official website www.macaodragonboat.com, or subscribe to the “Macao Major Sporting Events” Facebook page for further updates about the event.