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Over 8 000 visitors flocked to the docks of Belgium's greatest port city for the 4th edition of the Port of Antwerp Dragon Boat festival on Saturday (September 13, Belgium time).
The colourful and exciting festival is one of the biggest summer happenings in Antwerp and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), is one of the two main sponsors.
In addition to community groups, many companies took part in the team-building event. Forty teams of paddlers competed for three prizes, which were presented to the winners by the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Ms Linda Lai, and the Alderman of the City of Antwerp, Mr Ludo Van Campenhout.
The HKETO, Brussels entered two boats this year: Hong Kong Dragon, with a crew of staff and their family and friends, and Hong Kong International Paddlers, with a crew of athletic expat and local paddlers. The latter beat stiff competition to make it to the semi-final. A boat of famous Belgian show business personalities also took part in one of the races.
Many families came to enjoy a great day out by the water in the fine weather. Apart from the races, entertainment included an Asian drum band, well-known Belgian crooners, a children's village, and later in the evening, dancing to music spun by the country's trendiest DJs. A good choice of food was on offer, including traditional Hong Kong snacks like pineapple bun and milk tea, served from a booth next to the Hong Kong Pavilion.
The Hong Kong Pavilion was besieged by hundreds of members of the public, who keenly leafed through promotional brochures about Hong Kong to find the answers to a competition about the city. Many carried off prizes, ranging from kites to T-shirts, all bearing the Hong Kong Brand dragon signature. The Festival also attracted good media coverage and Ms Lai was interviewed by regional television ATV about business and cultural relations between Belgium and Antwerp and Hong Kong.
Dragon Boat racing as a sport is becoming increasingly popular in continental Europe and has ten official competition teams in the Netherlands alone. Belgium caught the bug in 2011, when the Port of Antwerp Dragon Boat Festival was held for the first time at the initiative of Rotary Antwerp West. Since then, the event, which benefits charities, has attracted bigger crowds every year. In addition to the HKETO, Brussels, the Port of Antwerp Dragon Boat Festival is supported by the Antwerp Port Authority and the Antwerp City Council.
Ends/Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Issued at HKT 01:41
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