Canoe Polo and Dragon Boat racing fever hit the Chinese Taipei city of Kaohsiung today with the best Canoe Polo and Dragon Boat Racing teams in the world arriving to contest for the title of World Games champions. In Canoe Polo reigning champions Germany (Women) return to the event that saw them become the champions in 1995. The top five teams from the most recent World Championships will compete in each category together with the hosts Chinese Taipei at the picturesque Lotus Pond venue. In Dragon Boat Racing the top teams in the mixed category from the World Championships 2008 will compete.
ICF Canoe Polo Chair Greg Smale said:
"You cannot underestimate the significance of the World Games to our discipline. The event takes the top teams in the world into an intense two day competition, the greatest multi sports event outside of the Olympic Games. Held every four years it is the pinnacle of our quadrennial calendar. The Lotus Pond and Qing Temples provide a spectacular backdrop to the competition".
Whilst ICF Dragon Boat Racing Chair François Ryffel stated:
“This fantastic setting provides an excellent environment for our Racing crews to set new standards in this rapidly developing canoeing discipline”.
The World Games Canoe Polo and Dragon Boat competitions take place on 17th and 18th July in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei.
