Dragon Boat West

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1444352006


Ethnic games tainted by cross-dressing cheats

BEIJING (Reuters) - Touted as a celebration of sport, culture and national unity, the Ethnic Minority Games held in southwestern China descended into a farce of cross-dressing cheating and mob violence, state media reported.

Athletes representing China's 55 ethnic minorities assembled in southwestern Yunnan province last week to compete in blow-pipe darts, horse-riding events and other traditional sports.

But blind pursuit of victory lead to some unorthodox tactics, Xinhua news agency reported.

Results of the women's dragon-boat racing event were reviewed after athletes complained of "big women with Adam's apples", Xinhua said. Referees subsequently found that several of the competitors were actually men wearing wigs.

A dispute between a team from the games' host city, Zhaotong, and another from Wenshan city in Yunnan province over the result of a wrestling final turned into a brawl, Xinhua said.

The Wenshan team was eventually chased away by a local gang

with blades and sticks called in by the Zhaotong team, Xinhua said.

"I've never seen violence and ugliness like that," a reporter at the games told Xinhua.

The nationality games have been held eight times in Yunnan province, where 25 of the country's 56 ethnic minorities live.

"The tenet of the games is to develop the minorities' characteristic sports, build up their health and increase national unity," Ren Muzhen, the chief organiser, told Xinhua.

Coaches blamed the unruly scenes on the pressures of having career advancement linked to results.

"Coaches and local officials still concentrate on medals and results in this games," a coach told Xinhua.

"They have to think about every means to get better results."

oh my gosh... that's hilarious...
almost as good as the Mizz-Drag-On-Boat contest at Harrison... that would show them what true ugliness looks like... *ouch*  :lol:

bet there are jr. teams that have college and 19+ paddlers as well,

no body checks for student ids, it's easy to just walk on the boat

Hey Luke,
What are you trying to say? Should we be checking your Eric Hamber team out next year? 
BTW, did you get hold of someone in SF, for the CDBF youth cup?

hey luke,

i think they should check ID at the beer gardens... there are minors that just easily walk in and buy alcohol...  :whistle:

ugh let's not bring that up alrigh guys,

Hey Kerry, yes Ken(race director) did contact me,

I'm saying please do check everyone, it'd make us feel so much more secure

ps:I guess me paddling for them is out of question eh?