The 36th Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival, organised by Toronto Chinese Business Association and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), welcomed teams from across Canada and around the world on June 15 and 16, attracting thousands of people to the Centre Island in Toronto to enjoy this annual event.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Festival, the Director of the HKETO, Ms Emily Mo, remarked that HKETO is proud to continue the support of the Festival. “Dragon boat race signifies the strong and close ties between Hong Kong and Canada,” said Ms Mo. “We brought this modernized water sport from Hong Kong to Canada.”
Ms Mo also shared with the audience that Hong Kong is blessed with a constant stream of exciting events this year. “Over 200 mega events is being held throughout 2024, spanning through cultural, arts, music, sports events, conventions and exhibitions on different sectors, as well as traditional festivals, celebrations, galas and carnivals,” Ms Mo added.
Ms Mo encouraged Canadians to visit the events calendar of Hong Kong when planning their itinerary to travel to this Asian World City.
On both days of the Festival, the HKETO set up a Hong Kong pavilion with mini-exhibition to showcase the history of dragon boating in Hong Kong. Giveaways were also distributed to the race spectators.
In addition, as one of the highlights of the Festival, the commemorative Hong Kong Cup, sponsored by the HKETO, was presented to one of the dragon boat race winning teams on June 16.
HKETO has been sponsoring dragon boat racing in different cities across Canada. The dragon boat festivals in Vancouver and Ottawa will be held from June 21 to 23 respectively.
香港經貿處支持第36屆多倫多國際龍舟節舉行
由多倫多華商會舉辦的第36屆多倫多國際龍舟節獲香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）支持，於六月十五日及十六日歡迎來自加拿大全國及世界各地的健兒參賽，吸引數以千計觀眾到多倫多中央島參加這年度盛事。
香港經貿處處長巫菀菁於開幕禮上致辭，指香港經貿處很榮幸能繼續支持龍舟節舉行，她說：「龍舟競渡象徵加港兩地的緊密聯繫，因為這現代水上運動是由香港引入加拿大。」
巫菀菁同時與參加者分享今年有各式各樣的盛事不絕在香港舉行，她表示：「超過200場涵蓋文化、藝術、音樂、體育的大型盛事於二○二四年全年舉行，另外亦包括不同領域的會議及展覽、傳統節日、慶典、匯演及嘉年華。」
巫菀菁鼓勵加拿大人在計劃前往香港旅遊時參考這亞洲國際都會的盛事時間表。
兩天龍舟節舉行期間，香港經貿處特設香港展館，舉辦小型展覽介紹香港的龍舟競賽歷史，並向觀賽人士派發紀念品。
由香港經貿處贊助的「香港杯」龍舟賽是多倫多國際龍舟節其中一項重點活動。賽事於六月十六日舉行，香港經貿處頒發獎盃予其中一隊勝出隊伍。
香港經貿處一直贊助在加拿大多個城市舉辦龍舟比賽，溫哥華及渥太華龍舟節將分別於六月二十一日至二十三日舉行。
