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2010 Istanbul European Capital of Culture .

Because of this fact we would like to have a part in promoting Istanbul as a cultural & sportive european capital .

We want to organisze the First Dragon boat festival in Istanbul this can take place on the Golden Horn area, The dragon boat festival could become the biggest water sport festivals in the country.

To accomplish the Dragon Boat festival in Istanbul we established the Turkish Dragon Boat Association in September 2007 (TDBA)

The TDBA is now a basic member full member from the IDBF international Dragonboat federation

The TDBA president Tom Holleman has fully support from the İDBF & the EDBF, both organizations will help with the organization from the 2010 festival.

We are looking for support to achief this major event , sponsorship and motivated sport people could bring in good spirit, energy and financial help.

Teams can be formed by company,s clubs and school teams.

At Continental level both the Asian and European Dragon Boat Federations have held Championships during 2006 and 2007 and the Affiliates Scheme for Dragon Boat Event Organisers and Festivals, now has 25 IDBF Affiliated Festivals, on four Continents.

The history from Istanbul tells us that similar water transportation crafts like the dragon boats where used in the old days to cross the Bosporus to bring over travelers and trades from the east to the west.

We expect big response from international company's to join this festival and are pretty shore about the outcome.

Istanbul

İt would be the first change to host this kind of a water sport event . The Dragon Boat Festival's in Istanbul will become a free events for spectators, with a good organization it could attract the attention from media like television ,internet on a international scale , to cheer on the pumped up competitors.

Style and rhythm

Are more important than raw power, Combined with the vital ingredient of team work, dragon boating is ideal for all shapes, sizes and abilities ,almost every one can join a team of dragon boat racers there will be a great number off groups available to join the first Dragon boat festival ..

There are even a number of Breast Cancer teams around the world now, this is because there is limited stress on the body and so is a sport that doesn't restrict participation because of injury, disability or illness .Health benefits, meeting new people, building a team and honing your timing and technique.

What do we want from the Istanbul capital of culture 2010 committee:

To put the dragon boat festival as a official 2010 cultural festival on the agenda .

To make it a recognized cultural and sportive program .

Promote the festival in all ways promotion folders – posters etc

Financial support when available.

Putting The Dragon Boat festival on the official websites

We putted a small part off information about the Dragon boat federation also more information can be found on www.idbf.org or www.dragonboat.com

Dragon boat history

According to legend, in 400BC the Chinese Statesman and revered poet Ch'y Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo river to protest the corrupt regime of the Ch'u Dynasty.

Local fishermen raced out in their boats to save him, but were too late. To prevent his body being eaten by fish they beat their paddles furiously on the water and threw rice as a sacrifice to his spirit.

Today we commemorate his death each year by racing at the spectacular Dragon Boat Festivals that happen around the world.

Dragon Boat racing is a dynamic and interesting sport which has survived the rise and fall of many corporate team building activities. As well as being a good fitness program, the Festival puts a big emphasis on adding value to a good time