2024 Chinese Dragon Boat Race kicks off in eastern city

The 2024 Chinese Dragon Boat Race kicked off its first race of the year on Saturday in Yancheng City, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The event, held at the picturesque Dayangwan eco-tourism scenic area, gathered over 800 athletes from 36 dragon boat teams across the country. Competing in China's premier dragon boat event, these teams will celebrate the traditional Dragon Boat Festival by slicing through the waters in a display of skill, sharing the festivity with dragon boat enthusiasts nationwide.

From Saturday to Sunday, teams will battle through the qualifying, preliminary, and semifinal rounds. The finals will culminate on June 10, coinciding with the traditional Dragon Boat Festival, staging a thrilling celebration with speed and a feast for the eye.

"At present, the dragon boat racing is very popular nationwide, with approximately 700 to 800 races held during the Dragon Boat Festival period. Among these races, the Chinese Dragon Boat Race stands out as the highest-level event, offering the highest total prize money and showcasing the highest level of competition. Therefore, it has drawn enthusiastic athletes from all over the country," said Liu Enyu, deputy secretary-general of Jiangsu's Yancheng Organizing Committee of the 2024 Chinese Dragon Boat Race.

In recent years, an increasing number of university teams have been participating in competitions for both the professional and youth groups. This trend signifies the growing popularity of the dragon boat sports among young people and the improvement in competitive standards.

"This is our first time participating in such a large-scale competition, and although our team is newly formed, I have a lot of faith in my teammates. We hope to make a strong start with the first victory. The Dragon Boat Festival is also a significant holiday in China, so I think it's quite meaningful. If we can achieve good results, it will be something to look back on with pride in the future," said Huang Liqing, a member from the dragon boat team of the Northeast Electric Power University.

Dragon boat racing is a traditional activity held during China's Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, which traditionally falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar and on June 10 this year, the Year of the Dragon. The race will incorporate dragon-themed elements into its clothing and medals, reflecting the auspicious creature's significance in Chinese culture.

Israel attacks hit two residential neighborhoods in Damascus on Thursday, killing at least 15 and injuring another 16.

The Israeli strikes targeted three residential buildings in the al-Mazzeh neighborhood in the capital and the Qudsaya area in Damascus countryside, according to Syria's state news agency SANA.

The airstrikes coincided with a visit by senior Iranian officials.

The actual targets of strikes remain unclear.

The bombings followed Israeli attacks on the Syria-Lebanon border in the province of Homs just a day earlier, which destroyed local roads and a bridge.

Civilians here express their growing fears for safety, with many deciding to flee as the airstrikes show no signs of abating.