Dragon Boat Racing has finally opened in the kingdom, courtesy of the renowned sports event organiser, Ninja Academy Bahrain.
A special event was held last weekend in the presence of guests and sports enthusiasts to celebrate the launch of TheGame dragon boat.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Philippine Ambassador Alfonso A Ver and TheGame managing partner Erex Jesus Solar.
The removal of the dragon’s blindfold was performed by one of the pioneers of Brinc Batelco IoT Hub, Paul Lalley and Mannai Holding chief executive Anil Nair.
A colourful band parade saw the entry of seven dragon boat teams, namely X3M Dragon Warriors, Combined Maritime Forces, Hurricane Alpha, Mabuhay Paddlers, Bahrain Fit to Row and Black Dragons.
After the ceremony, guests witnessed an exhibition drill of all the boats, performed by the respective teams.
Paddlers from these teams fought till the end in the 250m exhibition race, followed by the awarding of plaques by Malaysian Ambassador Agus Salim bin Yusof.
One of the primary purposes of the event was to invite teams to take part in the competitions and encourage everyone to make a new team to join TheGame.
Everyone, regardless of their fitness level, can enjoy dragon boating which offers many benefits to the body.
In this entire body workout, the legs become the anchor, and the muscles in the arms, back,
and shoulders drag the paddle in the water.
This sport is also great for strengthening the core and abs and is excellent for cardiovascular fitness as well.
Not just that, paddlers can also individually focus on a specific facet of their stroke and its progress.
The endurance as well as stamina that is required for this sport will quickly develop with training several times a week.
With a crew of above 20, dragon boating is a great way to make new friends.
It can also be helpful for mental toughness which is a vital part of this sport.
In China, the Dragon Boat Festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month (varying from late May to mid-June), which is traditionally considered a month of death and
disease, evil and darkness, due to the high summer temperatures.
Venerating the awakening dragon was meant to avert misfortune and encourage rainfall, needed for the fertility of crops and prosperity of the people.
The ceremony, in respect to Chinese custom, will open the dragon’s eyes, ward off evil spirits and prepare the river for voyage.
Conducted to cleanse, bless the area of the competition, the competitors and their boats, the ceremony also gives the boats and their crew the strength of the dragon and the blessing of the goddess of the sea.
“We are inviting everyone to take part in our event because we believe that dragon boating is not just sports; it is passion, determination, and teamwork,” said Mr Solar.
“It is one of the best ways to develop friendship and discipline and the lessons that we can learn through dragon boating can help us in our daily living.
“You will see the intensity of the athletes paddling; they strive hard to reach the finish line. We are excited and honoured to bring this project to everyone,” he added.
Customer service is always available to answer any queries.
For more information on how to join TheGame, call Ninja Academy Bahrain on 33824626.
Alternatively, email inquiries@bythegame.com.