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Sportive spirit was in the air when champion paddlers from Hong Kong and Singapore competed in the dragon boat race in Singapore today (November 4).
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore has invited the 22-strong team from the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association to take part in the Hong Kong Cup 2012 in Singapore, which is one of the events of the Hong Kong Festival 2012 in Singapore to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
With the support of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, the Hong Kong Cup 2012 was held as part of the 30th Singapore River Regatta which was conducted in Singapore River from November 3-4. Winning teams from three categories – National Premier Open, Tertiary Open and Expatriate teams – were invited to vie for the Hong Kong Cup 2012 together with the Hong Kong team.
The Director of the HKETO in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, said, "We hope the dragon boat race will act as the platform for renewing and strengthening our friendship with Singapore."
"The event is more than just a sport. It brings closer the people of the two places through the competitive yet carnival atmosphere," he said.
The Singapore River Regatta has drawn some 90 teams with 3,000 dragon boat athletes to compete in 174 races in the two-day event which has drawn a large crowd of spectators, both locals and tourists.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Team finished first in the Hong Kong Cup 2012.
Today's dragon boat race concluded the month-long Hong Kong Festival 2012 which was kicked off in mid-October with events covering food, drama, music, business forum and festive sport. The Hong Kong Festival 2012 aims to showcase Hong Kong's vibrancy and its diverse arts and culture, as well as its status as a premier business destination.
Ends/Sunday, November 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:21
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