The Hungarian Dragon Boat Federation is a Member of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and recognised by the IDBF as the specific Governing Body for Dragon Boating in Hungary.

History

A little history...

The history of this sport originated in Southern-China, more than 2000 years ago. The beginnings of dragon boating reach back to those old times when according to superstition, these Chinese boats were sliding on the water in order to gain better crops. The competitions were held on the fifth day of the fifth month; this meant the period of the year which carried a number of negative meanings: a period of disease, death, darkness and evil. The competitions were rituals that were meant to bring rich crops and rain, as well as chase evil away.

Among the Chinese zodiac signs, the dragon is the most mystic one and, at the same time, the most deeply respected sign. This is not by chance, since according to the mythology the dragon is the lord of the rivers, the seas, the rains and the clouds. The dragon boat competitions in those days were not like the competitions today: they were 'dragon' battles presented with the aim of waking up the sleeping Dragon in the Sky. At these competitions, they also used to offer sacrifices and have kept this custom even long years afterwards; what is more, descriptions witness that when a team would fall into the water no-one would rescue them, since it was held that it was not a good thing to go against the gods’ will.

During the years, another story intertwined with the history of dragon boating, creating a duality within.

According to this, the history of dragon boat sport is linked to the legend of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan, the poet and statesman adored by the Chinese, was charged with treason and sent to exile by because of pure jealousy. As a final objection against the government of the corrupt Chu Monarchy, he killed himself by jumping into the river Mi Lo. The Chinese have never forgotten this desperate but heroic deed. The fishermen were competing to find his body before the fish had a chance to eat it, they were playing drums and beating the water with their paddles and throwing rice balls into the water in order to chase them away. That is where the tradition comes from and in China, ever since, on the fifth day of each fifth lunar month, the dragon boat festivity is held, which is not only a water competition but also a huge festival, a colourful procession.

In China, one of the three main annual festivities is the dragon boat festival. In China and in several Far-Eastern countries, dragon boat competitions still mean festivals lasting for several days and not merely simple contests between the teams. Special meals, programmes and rituals give a colour to these events. The tradition of several thousands of years combines the competition, festival atmosphere and the tradition of popular healing. Apart from the boat competitions, disease prevention and fertility rituals also appear at the festival. Adults consume a drink made of herbs and rice extract for their health and they draw ancient signs on the children’s foreheads with alcohol. Herbs are placed on the entrances of houses in order to keep the evil spirit away. On the day of the dragon boat festival, they eat zongzi which is made of rice, meat or beans.

According to the tradition, before the festival, they “bring the boats to life” with the help of a Taoist monk who blesses the boats at the heads of the dragons and at the end of the competition, dragon heads, tails and drums of the boats are placed in a shrine (they are put to rest); whereas the bodies are stored in a special way until the next festival when everything starts once again from the beginning...

At some Asian or Oceanian dragon boat festivals, several hundreds of boats compete with each other and several thousands cheer them on.

International organisations of dragon boating

IDBF- International Dragon Boat Federation

www.idbf.org

In the 1970s, Hong-Kong’s tourist federation initiated the organization of an international dragon boat festival. From 1976 onwards, the first Hong-Kong competitions were the beginning for the world-wide success of the dragon boat sport; thus, this year is still regarded as the beginnings of the “modern dragon boating life”. The news about the development and ever growing quality of the Hong-Kong international competitions (Hong Kong International Races) spread world-wide. Until the establishment of the International Dragon Boat Federation (1991), this competition has been the “non official club crew world championship” of this sport. The nations taking part in these competitions established their own national professional associations after returning home; later the European (EDBF), the international (IDBF) and the Asian (ADBF) Dragon Boat Federations were also established.

At present the IDBF unites more than 60 countries on five continents. It has established its own system of competitions, its competition regulations, competition referee training and patented the manufacture of dragon boats and paddles.

Since the foundation of the IDBF there has been uninterrupted progress in this sport, and 30 years after the first Asian competitions, the continuous growth and progress has shown the strength of dragon boating. In our days, nearly 50 million (!) participate in China, more than 300 thousand in the United Kingdom and Europe (the main dragon boating nations are the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Great Britain), 90 thousand in Canada and the United States of America and several thousand in Australia and New-Zealand. It is beginning to spread in several countries in the Caribbean and Africa. Thus, we can state that dragon boating is a unique and completely independent boating sport.

The IDBF asked to be admitted into the AGFIS in 1999, this was first put on the agenda in 2004.

The first Dragon Boat World Championship was held in China in 1995, the second in 1997 in Hong-Kong and the third in 1999 in Nottingham. From 1998 onwards, in every even calendar year World Championships are held between the clubs and in every odd year between nations.

EDBF- European Dragon Boat Federation

www.edbf.org

In Europe, this sport only became known at the end of the 80s. The first dragon boat bodies arrived to Europe through Hong Kong and Singapore travel agencies. In 1982, the first dragon boat was presented in Duisburg and in 1987 a dragon boating event was presented as part of the Kayak-Canoe World Championship. The third significant European event was held at the 800^th anniversary of the foundation of the port of Hamburg when a dragon boat race was one of the key elements in the festival’s entertainment programme.

The European Dragon Boat Federation (EDBF) was established on the 5^th of May 1990 in the Centre for Water Sports in Hazewinkel, in Mechelen, Belgium. Among the founding countries there were the representatives of Holland, Italy, Sweden, The United Kingdom and West-Germany; intention of entry into the Federation was sent in a written declaration by Denmark, Finland, Norway and Switzerland; Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Poland and Portugal also assured their entrance as members.

In 1992, the EDBF held the first Dragon Boat European Championship between European club crews in Hazewinkel in Belgium, then following this it was held each year (in Schwerin, Berlin, Nottingham, Silkeborg, Duisburg) until 1997. In 1996, in Silkeborg, parallel with the European club teams’ Championship the first, then in 1997 in Duisburg the second and in 1998 in Rome the third Dragon Boat European Championship among nations was also held. From 1998 onwards, European Championships are held in every even calendar year among nations and in every odd year among clubs.