[Life] Taipei Dragon Boat Race Opens; Hongkongers in Taiwan Form Team, Cheer 'Hong Kong Jia You' to Support Taiwan
bellala 央廣4h ago
The 2026 Taipei International Dragon Boat Championship kicked off today (19th), the Dragon Boat Festival. Hongkongers in Taiwan assembled for the first time to compete under the name "Hong Kong Jia You" (Hong Kong,加油 - meaning 'keep going' or 'cheer up'). Team leader Wu Weiyun and manager Wen Runyu hope to let the world see Hong Kong, and they held support towels, wishing Taiwan to also cheer up together.
The competition, held at Dajia Riverside Park, attracted 223 teams from home and abroad this year, with over 5,000 team members gathering by the Keelung River to paddle and compete for a total prize of NT$3.61 million.
Wu Weiyun and Wen Runyu stated in an interview that many Hongkongers have settled in Taiwan and live like Taiwanese, but they hope to participate in more community activities under their own banner, such as competing under the name "Hong Kong Jia You."
Wu Weiyun mentioned that they registered for the small dragon boat men's group, with a total of 19 people. They trained together every Saturday and Sunday for three months, rain or shine. Wu Weiyun and Wen Runyu laughed, saying of course they hope to win first place, but victory is no longer that important; this sport is about challenging oneself, "the opponent is not others, but oneself."
Wu Weiyun and Wen Runyu said that "Hong Kong Jia You" has a literal meaning, but also hopes to draw attention from all sectors to Hong Kong and Hongkongers. They also hope their current home, Taiwan, will also cheer up. They specially made "HONGKONGER TEAM TAIWAN" towels to represent the support of Hongkongers for Taiwan.
After the first day of competition, the opening ceremony was held in the evening. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated that this year, in addition to strong teams that have long participated, such as "Xuyuan Ren," "Rainbow Impact," and "Tzuchi University," teams from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and embassies in Taiwan from the Netherlands, Australia, the UK, and the European Union also participated, making the event richer and more exciting.
Furthermore, Chiang Wan-an said that this year's event received two international gold awards, the "MUSE Creative Awards" and the "TITAN Innovation Awards," bringing this traditional culture to the international stage and allowing the world to see Taipei.
He said that the competition brings together participants of different ages, nationalities, and backgrounds, showcasing Taipei's diverse, inclusive, and open charm. He wished all teams to display their best abilities and achieve the best results. (Editor: Zhong Jinlong)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215571
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