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This article is transferred from [CCTV News Client];

From August 8th to 10th, following the Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese Dragon Boat Race once again entered the Paris Olympics as a demonstration event. The dragon boat race made a stunning appearance at the Marne River Aquatic Sports Center of the Paris Olympics, marking a further step forward in the process of "dragon boat racing entering the Olympics."

Invited by the Paris Olympic Committee, the Chinese Canoeing Association sent a team of ten people to participate in the dragon boat demonstration during the canoeing competition. This is the second time that Chinese dragon boats have been demonstrated at the Olympic Games. The three-day demonstration has a different theme every day, and the participating paddlers come from different countries and different industries. In addition to world-renowned athletes, there are also representatives of the French Paralympic Games, well-known media and entrepreneurs.

Thomas Konietzko, President of the International Canoe Federation: The three-day dragon boat show is not only a wonderful performance, we can not only entertain the audience at the competition site, but also tell the audience from all over the world about the importance of dragon boat. It is of great significance for dragon boat racing to be a demonstration sport on the largest world sports stage. Next year's World Games will be held in Chengdu, and dragon boat racing will be one of the events. Of course, we are also working hard to promote dragon boat sports, and we look forward to the day when we can convince the International Olympic Committee that dragon boat racing can add more value to the Olympics. We are doing our best to achieve this goal as soon as possible.

Thomas Konietzko, president of the International Canoe Federation, said that the International Rowing Federation, as the world's paddling management organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee, has been committed to promoting the international development of Chinese dragon boat racing. The International Rowing Federation plans to include dragon boat racing in the Canoeing World Cup and the 2025 Chengdu World Games from next year, which is a key step in the entry of dragon boat racing into the Olympics. Thomas himself also likes to row dragon boats. He told reporters that dragon boat racing is not only a competition, but also a value of "being in the same boat".

Reporter: Have you ever rowed a dragon boat yourself?

Thomas Konietzko, President of the International Canoe Federation: Of course, I have rowed a dragon boat many times. I compete in local events at a very low level, and I enjoy it because it is a lifestyle, not just a competition. Dragon boating embodies a value, a value shared by our canoeing sport: unity, tolerance, friendship. This is important because these values ​​are important to us at the International Canoe Federation, and dragon boat racing is one of the best ways to show these values. We are proud of it and want to convey it to the public.

Not only in China, the dragon boat sport has taken root and flourished all over the world. Under the joint coordination of the International Olympic Committee, the International Canoe Federation, China Central Radio and Television and other organizations, dragon boat racing was included in the Paris Olympic Games as a demonstration event, which means that dragon boat racing has started the process of entering the Olympics.

Jean Zongran, President of the European Canoeing Association and the French Canoeing Association: It means a lot to us to have dragon boats at the Olympics. In France, we have been rowing dragon boats for a long time and we have organized a French dragon boat championship. Dragon boats can also improve our health and well-being. Dragon boating is not only a rowing sport, but also has a deep culture behind it. I think it is very interesting because it promotes friendship between our countries and mutual understanding between China and France.

It is understood that the three competitive dragon boats participating in the exhibition match meet the Olympic standards and were presented to the International Canoe Federation, the European Canoe Association and the French Canoe Association after the display. These three dragon boats will be used for daily training and international cultural exchange experiences of the three rowing organizations, and will become a new landscape on the Seine River.

Producer: Jiang Qiudi

Editor-in-Chief: Liang Tao

Reporter: Song Liang