IDBF 12th World Championships · Canada

WORLD
DRAGON BOAT
RACING 2015

Welland International Flatwater Centre · Ontario · Canada
August 7–16Race Days
60+Nations Competing
5,000+Athletes
First TimeIn Canada
View Schedule Competing Nations
Event Countdown
47Days
12Hours
38Minutes
04Seconds
August 7, 2015 — Opening Ceremony Welland International Flatwater Centre, Welland, Ontario
Championship Highlights

THE GREATEST PADDLE
SPORT EVENT ON EARTH

Every two years, dragon boat nations from across the globe converge for the IDBF World Championships. In 2015, for the first time ever, that journey leads to Canada.

Dragon boat racing teams competing
Main Event

Club Crew Championships — The Premier Race

Dragon boat opening ceremony
Ceremony

Opening Ceremony — Aug 7

Nations marching parade
Cultural

Parade of Nations

Awards and medals ceremony
Finals

Gold Medal Finals — Aug 16

Welland Canal Ontario
Venue

Welland Flatwater Centre

Competing Nations:
🇨🇦 Canada
🇨🇳 China
🇦🇺 Australia
🇺🇸 United States
🇬🇧 Great Britain
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇩🇪 Germany
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🇸🇬 Singapore
🇵🇭 Philippines
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇯🇵 Japan
🇮🇹 Italy
🇫🇷 France
+ 48 More
Welland International Flatwater Centre Canal Ontario
The Venue

WELLAND
INTERNATIONAL
FLATWATER CENTRE

Carved from the historic Welland Canal system, the Welland International Flatwater Centre is one of the finest competition venues in the world. A purpose-built, 2,300-metre flatwater course with zero current and zero tide — the fastest dragon boat racing conditions on the planet.

Located in Welland, Ontario, 90 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport and 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, the venue sits at the heart of Canada's most iconic waterway.

2,300mCompetition Course
9Racing Lanes
20,000Spectator Capacity
ZeroCurrent / Tide
Competition Programme

RACE
SCHEDULE

August 7–16, 2015 at the Welland International Flatwater Centre, Ontario. 10 days of racing across Standard (200m), Standard (500m), and Premier (2000m) distances in Small Boat and Big Boat classes.

Aug 7 Opening Day – Aug 16 Finals Day
7

August 7, 2015 — Opening Day

Friday · Welland International Flatwater Centre
09:00

Official Opening Ceremony

Parade of Nations, welcome addresses by IDBF President and Canadian officials

Main Stage
West Bank
Ceremony
11:30

Small Boat 200m — Heats (Mixed)

All nations — preliminary round

Racing Course
Lanes 1–9
Racing
13:00

Small Boat 200m — Heats (Women)

All nations — preliminary round

Racing Course
Lanes 1–9
Racing
15:00

Small Boat 500m — Heats (Open Men)

All nations — preliminary round

Racing Course
Lanes 1–9
Racing
8

August 8, 2015 — Racing Day 2

Saturday · Welland International Flatwater Centre
08:00

Small Boat 200m — Heats (Open Men)

All nations — preliminary round

Racing Course
Racing
10:30

Big Boat 500m — Heats (Mixed)

Standard class, 20-paddler boats

Racing Course
Racing
13:00

Big Boat 500m — Heats (Women)

Standard class, 20-paddler boats

Racing Course
Racing
15:30

Premier Boat 2000m — Heats (Open)

Premier class, long-distance event

Full Course
Racing
16

August 16, 2015 — Grand Finals Day

Sunday · Medal Races & Closing Ceremony
09:00

Small Boat 200m — GOLD FINAL (Mixed)

Championship final — top 3 nations receive medals

Racing Course
Gold Final
10:00

Small Boat 200m — GOLD FINAL (Women)

Championship final

Racing Course
Gold Final
11:00

Big Boat 500m — GOLD FINAL (Open Men)

Championship final

Racing Course
Gold Final
13:30

Premier 2000m — GOLD FINAL (Open)

Premier class championship final — the marquee race of the games

Full Course
Gold Final
16:30

Closing Ceremony & Medal Presentations

All gold medal presentations followed by closing address and next host announcement

Main Stage
Ceremony
International Entries

COMPETING
NATIONS

The 2015 WDBRC brings together over 60 member nations of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). Each nation may enter one crew per race class under IDBF Nations regulations.

62Member Nations
5,000+Athletes
3Boat Classes
6Gender/Age Divisions
🇨🇦
Canada
All Classes
Host Nation
🇨🇳
China
All Classes
Defending Champ
🇦🇺
Australia
All Classes
Confirmed
🇺🇸
United States
All Classes
Confirmed
🇬🇧
Great Britain
All Classes
Confirmed
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
All Classes
Defending Champ
🇳🇿
New Zealand
Big Boat, Small Boat
Confirmed
🇩🇪
Germany
All Classes
Confirmed
🇸🇬
Singapore
All Classes
Confirmed
🇵🇭
Philippines
Big Boat, Premier
Confirmed
🇰🇷
South Korea
All Classes
Confirmed
🇯🇵
Japan
All Classes
Confirmed
🇮🇹
Italy
Big Boat, Small Boat
Confirmed
🇫🇷
France
All Classes
Confirmed
🇨🇿
Czech Republic
Small Boat, Big Boat
Confirmed
🇿🇦
South Africa
Big Boat
Confirmed
🇲🇾
Malaysia
All Classes
Confirmed
🇹🇭
Thailand
Big Boat, Premier
Confirmed
🇷🇺
Russia
All Classes
Confirmed
🇳🇱
Netherlands
Small Boat, Big Boat
Confirmed
Official Results

CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULTS

Final results, medal standings, and podium placements for all race classes and gender divisions at the 2015 WDBRC, Welland, Ontario.

MEDAL TABLE

PosNation🥇🥈🥉
1
🇨🇳China
8
4
2
2
🇭🇰Hong Kong
4
3
3
3
🇨🇦Canada
3
5
4
4
🇦🇺Australia
2
2
3
5
🇺🇸United States
2
1
2
6
🇬🇧Great Britain
1
2
2
7
🇩🇪Germany
1
1
1
8
🇳🇿New Zealand
0
2
3
9
🇸🇬Singapore
0
1
2
10
🇵🇭Philippines
0
1
1

PODIUM FINISHES

Small Boat 200m — Women · Final
🥇🇨🇳 China00:47.22
🥈🇨🇦 Canada00:47.89
🥉🇦🇺 Australia00:48.11
Small Boat 200m — Open Men · Final
🥇🇭🇰 Hong Kong00:44.68
🥈🇨🇳 China00:44.97
🥉🇺🇸 United States00:45.21
Big Boat 500m — Mixed · Final
🥇🇨🇳 China02:02.14
🥈🇬🇧 Great Britain02:02.88
🥉🇨🇦 Canada02:03.15
Premier 2000m — Open · Final
🥇🇨🇦 Canada08:14.33
🥈🇳🇿 New Zealand08:16.07
🥉🇩🇪 Germany08:17.45
Welland Canal Ontario waterway
Venue & Travel

WELLAND,
ONTARIO

Home of the Welland International Flatwater Centre and the historic Welland Canal — gateway to the Great Lakes and the Niagara region.

THE FLATWATER CENTRE

🏊

Competition Course

2,300-metre championship course with 9 racing lanes, fully buoyed and marked to IDBF international standards. Zero current, zero tide — the fastest conditions on Earth for dragon boat racing.

🏟️

Spectator Facilities

Grandstand seating for 5,000 with overflow lawn viewing for 15,000+ spectators. Jumbotron replay screens, live race commentary in English and French.

🛶

Boat Storage & Rigging

Dedicated rigging areas, boat storage compounds, and fueling stations for all competing nations. Equipment inspection by certified IDBF officials on-site.

⚕️

Medical & Anti-Doping

On-site medical centre staffed 24 hours during competition days. WADA-certified doping control station for medal event athletes.

GETTING TO WELLAND

✈️

By Air

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is 90 minutes by highway. Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is 45 minutes via the Peace Bridge.

🚗

By Car

Welland is on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), 15 minutes from Niagara Falls and 90 minutes from downtown Toronto. Free parking on-site for 4,000 vehicles.

🚌

Shuttle Service

Official championship shuttle buses run from Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and Hamilton to the venue every 30 minutes on race days.

Accommodation

OFFICIAL TEAM HOTELS

Official team hotel Niagara

Marriott Niagara Falls Gateway

Official team hotel for 12 nations. Championship rates available through the WDBRC 2015 accommodation portal. Full-service hotel with pool and dining.

20 min to venue · 0 min to Niagara Falls
Delta St. Catharines

Delta Hotels St. Catharines

Host hotel for IDBF officials and media. Championship shuttle stop on-site. 120 rooms reserved for championships delegation at preferential rates.

12 min to venue · Downtown St. Catharines
Holiday Inn Welland

Holiday Inn Welland Centre

Closest hotel to the venue — walking distance to the Flatwater Centre. Budget-friendly option for athletes and support staff. Block booking available.

5 min walk · Closest to venue
The Championships

ABOUT
WDBRC
2015

The 12th edition of the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships comes to Canadian soil for the first time in the sport's modern history — a milestone for Dragon Boat Canada, the IDBF, and the global dragon boat community.

Dragon boat athletes racing at world championships

THE SPORT

Dragon boat racing traces its origins to ancient China over 2,000 years ago, rooted in the legend of the poet Qu Yuan and the Duanwu Festival. Modern competitive dragon boat racing was codified in Hong Kong in 1976 and has since grown into one of the fastest-growing paddling sports on the planet, with over 60 million participants in more than 90 countries worldwide.

The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was established in 1991 to govern the sport internationally. Today, the IDBF oversees World Championships events, World Nations Championships, and the development of dragon boat racing on every continent.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships is held every two years in even years, with the World Nations Championships held in odd years. The 2015 WDBRC at Welland is the 12th edition of the World Championships, and the first time the event has been held outside Asia, Europe, or Oceania.

Dragon Boat Canada successfully bid for the 2015 championship in partnership with the Welland International Flatwater Centre — a world-class purpose-built facility that gave the IDBF the confidence to award Canada its first-ever hosting rights for the flagship event.

DRAGON BOAT CANADA

Dragon Boat Canada (DBC) is the national governing body for dragon boat racing in Canada, recognized internationally by the IDBF. As a federally incorporated not-for-profit, DBC governs the sport across three regional bodies spanning all provinces and territories. The 2015 World Championships represents the greatest achievement in the organization's history.

2,000+Years of Dragon Boat History
90+Countries with IDBF Members
60MParticipants Worldwide
12thEdition of the World Championships
1stTime the Championships Come to Canada
Organizing Bodies

THE ORGANIZATIONS
BEHIND THE EVENT

IDBF — International Dragon Boat Federation

The world governing body for dragon boat racing. Founded in 1991, the IDBF has 90+ member nations and administers the sport's international competition calendar including the World Championships. The IDBF is recognized by the World Games International Committee and Sport Accord.

Dragon Boat Canada

Canada's national governing body for dragon boat racing, federally incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation and recognized by the IDBF as Canada's official representative. DBC governs three regional bodies and oversees National Championships, team selection for international events, and development programs across the country.

Welland International Flatwater Centre

Canada's premier flatwater competition facility, purpose-built for international paddling sport. Home to world-class regattas across canoeing, kayaking, and rowing disciplines as well as the 2015 WDBRC, the Centre is operated by the City of Welland with support from the provincial and federal governments.

Get in Touch

CONTACT
WDBRC 2015

For media accreditation, team registration inquiries, sponsorship, volunteering, or general questions about the 2015 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships.

📧

General Inquiries

info@wdbrc2015.ca

🎙️

Media & Press

media@wdbrc2015.ca · Accreditation applications close July 1

🏅

Team Registration

registration@wdbrc2015.ca · Deadline: June 15, 2015

💼

Sponsorship

sponsors@wdbrc2015.ca · Partnership packages available

SEND A MESSAGE

We respond to all inquiries within 2 business days. For urgent team or official matters, use the email addresses listed above.

KEY CONTACTS

Championships Office

Welland International Flatwater Centre
300 Forks Road East
Welland, ON L3B 5N5
Canada

Competition Director

All technical racing inquiries: competition@wdbrc2015.ca

Volunteer Coordinator

Over 800 volunteers needed. Apply online: volunteers@wdbrc2015.ca

Dragon Boat Canada

National governing body and event organizer.
dragonboatcanada.ca

📋 MEDIA ACCREDITATION

Accreditation applications are open for broadcasters, photographers, and print/digital journalists. Submit credentials and assignment letter to media@wdbrc2015.ca by July 1, 2015.