International Dragon Boat Regatta, S’wak Regatta Oct 28 – Nov 6
KUCHING: The much-awaited Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta and Sarawak Regatta will be taking place at Kuching Waterfront here over two weekends.
Held in conjunction with the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2022, the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta will run from Oct 28 to 30, while the Sarawak Regatta will be from Nov 4 to 6.
Speaking at a press conference, state Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said an eyedotting ceremony for the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta would be held on Oct 29 (Saturday), commencing at 10am.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is expected to officiate at the event.
“There will be a special category for this year’s dragon boat regatta in support of cancer survivors, and Sarawak will also send our team to participate in the event,” said Abdul Karim at his office at Bailtulmakmur II building in Petra Jaya yesterday.
Abdul Karim said as October would actually be World Cancer Month, the organiser would hold a ceremony to throw pink fresh flowers into the river as a symbolic gesture of support for the cancer survivors.
There are seven categories for Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta: International Premier Open 20s; International Premier Open 12s; International Premier Mix 12s (five male paddlers and five female paddlers); International Premier Ladies 12s; International Masters Mix 40 and Above (for paddlers born in 1982 and before); International Cancer Survivors Race 12s, and Malaysia Men 12s-Closed.
Sixteen countries will be participating in the eighth edition of the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta, and they countries are the UK, Georgia, Cyprus, Italy, the US, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Netherlands, Indonesia, Brunei, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Abdul Karim said this year’s edition of Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta had attracted 50 teams with about 1,453 participants.
Iran, Georgia, Italy, Cyprus, Bangladesh, UK and UAE would be sending their teams for the first time to the international sports event.
“The total value of the prizes for Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta has been increased to RM100,000, comprising cash prizes and trophies. The trophy presentation will be held at Pullman Hotel here on Oct 30.”
As for Sarawak Regatta, Abdul Karim said the launch would be held on Oct 29, at 10am, during the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta event and Abang Johari had been invited to officiate at the ceremony.
The highlight of the Sarawak Regatta would take place on Nov 6, with paddlers competing to fight for the ‘Raja Sungai’ trophy. In attendance would be Yang diPertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib.
The winner would take home cash prize and a trophy worth RM20,000. Prizes worth a total RM254,000 would be up for grabs during the race.
There would be 14 categories this year for Sarawak Regatta, including a new category named ‘Perahu Tambang (Berdayung)’, and there would be 26 preliminary rounds and 14 finals to be held.
Registration forms for the regatta can be obtained at Sarawak Rivers Board office located on the second floor of Electra House building. The closing date for registration is Oct 17 (Monday), by noon.
Teams management briefing and draw would be held on Oct 25 (Tuesday) at 9am.
Petra Energy Berhad is the gold sponsor for the Sarawak RegattaKuching Waterfront Festival 2022 by contributing RM100,000; the bronze sponsors are JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited, SapuraOMV Upstream (Sarawak) Inc and Saraworks Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Sampling Resources Sdn Bhd). Each bronze sponsor contributed RM30,000.
Other sponsors include Yayasan Sarawak, Borneo Housing and Mortgage, SGOS Capital Holdings, Harwood Timber Sdn Bhd and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas).
Adding on, Abdul Karim expressed hope that airline operators would not simply reschedule their flights during this festival as it might affect the participants from arriving in the state in time for the competition.
The minister also pointed out a special lane would be arranged at the airport to welcome the international participants and he would monitor their flight arrangements closely to avoid any delay in arrival.
Paddlers would also be visiting the Borneo Cultures Museum and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre during their stay here.
During the Sarawak RegattaKuching Waterfront Festival 2022 from Oct 28 to Nov 6, an entrepreneur and food festival would also be held, during which 30 stalls selling local food and 20 booths selling small and medium industries products would be set up.
A fee of RM300 is charged for each stall or booth.
A tent, named ‘Sarawak Kitchen’, would also be set up with cooking and karaoke competitions to be held, among many other activities.
Furthermore, Abdul Karim said 100 booths selling handicrafts would also be set up as part of the Borneo Textile Craft Festival, organised by Malaysia Handicraft Development Corporation Sarawak branch.
There would also be a Sarawak Malay Drum Festival, Sarawak original music and dance festival, ‘Waterfront Idol’, Sarawak theatre house stage presentation, ‘Sounds of Borneo’ concert and ‘Kids Talent Night’.