The kick-off ceremony of the 33rd Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival (the Festival), organised by the Toronto Chinese Business Association in collaboration with GWN Dragon Boat, was held virtually on June 26. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) is a key sponsor of the Festival.
Speaking at the virtual opening ceremony of the Festival, Director of HKETO, Ms Emily Mo, said she was delighted to join the Festival and celebrate with the Canadian public this popular water sport event across Canada. "This wonderful event demonstrates the strong and close ties between Canada and Hong Kong, as Hong Kong is the birth place of modern dragon boat racing," Ms Mo said.
"Hong Kong hosted the first international dragon boat race four decades ago and introduced this sport to Canada at the 1986 World Expo in Vancouver, then to other major cities including Toronto," Mo Mo continued.
"Today, millions of paddlers around the world have participated in this international sport, and the Dragon Boat Festival has become one of the most popular races among athletes and the local community in Canada," Ms Mo said.
Noting the Festival this year has been postponed due to the pandemic, Ms Mo looked forward to seeing the relaxation of health restrictions and attending the event in person in September. As in previous years, HKETO will set up a Hong Kong pavilion at the Festival for visitors to learn more about the history of dragon boating and take pictures in front of Hong Kong landscape images.
香港經貿處支持2021多倫多國際龍舟節
由多倫多華商會及GWN Dragon Boat合辦的第三十三屆多倫多國際龍舟節（龍舟節）於六月二十六日舉行網上啟動儀式。香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）是龍舟節的主要贊助機構。
香港經貿處處長巫菀菁在網上開幕禮上致辭，表示很高興參與今年度的龍舟節，與加拿大民眾一起慶祝這極受歡迎的水上運動。巫菀菁表示：「香港是龍舟競渡的發源地，而龍舟盛事見證了加港兩地的緊密聯繫。」
巫菀菁續說：「香港約四十年前舉辦首個國際龍舟賽事，並透過一九八六年溫哥華世界博覽會將這項運動引入加拿大，隨後推廣至多倫多市等其他大城市。」
巫菀菁表示：「全球至今已有數以百萬計龍舟競渡選手曾參加這項國際體育運動，龍舟競渡也成為加拿大其中一項深受運動員及社區歡迎的比賽。」
今屆龍舟節因受疫情影響而延期舉行，巫菀菁期望當衞生限制放寬，可於九月親身出席活動。一如以往，香港經貿處將在龍舟節現場設立香港展館，讓遊客認識更多有關龍舟競渡的歷史，並在香港美麗景色的背景前拍照。
