Canadian Dragon Boats to compete in Israel
More than 1,000 travellers and athletes from around the world will arrive in Israel for the first-ever Dragon Boat Israel Festival on the Sea of Galilee, May 17-18. A joint Canada-Israel initiative whose aim is to introduce the sport of dragon boating to Israel and to unite travellers and athletes, the Dragon Boat Israel Festival will include 39 teams from Canada, Israel and around the world, including New Zealand, Thailand and Ireland, as well as more than 500 spectators. Originated in China more than 2,000 years ago, Dragon Boat racing has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with long boats decorated with a dragon head and containing 20 paddlers, a boat driver at the helm and a drummer pounding out a beat from the front of the boat. “We are very excited for the launch of Israel’s first-ever Dragon Boat racing competition, with one of the largest delegation of competitors arriving from Canada,”said Oded Grofman, Consul for Tourism, Israel Government Tourist Office – Canada. “The event will bring athletes and sports fans from around the world to the beautiful shores of the Sea of Galilee.”Two Israeli charities will be the beneficiaries of the festival, including Youth Futures, which provides mentoring services to 7,000 disadvantaged young people, and Net@, which trains disadvantaged high school students in technology and leadership skills. (http://www.dragonboatisrael.com , http://www.goisrael.ca)
