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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[Backward Rowing]

Dragon boat worlds
From: Wild, Lionel (VAN_Exchange)
Sent: Thu 9/27/07 11:27 AM

Hi.

You asked us about the dragon boat racing worlds in Australia. We didn't cover it, and didn't — as far as I can tell — receive any press releases on it. It just wasn't on our radar.

I'm sure the event has a website that has that information.

Regards,

Lionel D. Wild
Assistant Sports Editor
The Vancouver Sun

Oh, the disappointment with IDBF and Dragon Boat Canada.  If they can't be bothered sending a press release on the event, why even bother asking for funding from businesses, governments and foundations?  I can accept me, the weekend warrior, paddling and winning/losing races in festivals, but is there a point to calling "Team Canada" anything more than weekend warriors like myself?

I guess I am getting tired of hearing, "this is a grassroots organization" and volunteer.  Volunteer for what?  I am happy to drop by Creekside Park and help out during festivals, such as Paddle for Kids and DragonZone 500m Regatta.  Since Dragon Boat Canada and IDBF is a black-hole organization, I have no idea what people do there.  I have no idea how much money they spend.  I have no idea. 

I am just ranting because I was not able to follow this sport in my mainstream news source.

World Dragon Boat Racing Chamapionships
Sent: Tue 9/25/07 10:53 AM
To: [email protected]

Just out of curiosity, what were the results of the World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Sydney, Australia.  Rumours were Canada did well, but I haven't seen anything in the Vancouver Sun.

[Colossus]

The women got some coverage out east.

[glowing_ice]

no news coverage?! awww... colossus can't be poster boy on the cover of vancouver sun.  ... j/k

dboat being in the shadows of other sports isn't new.  sadly if it doesn't associate with snow, ice or a stick you won't hear much about it in canada.  i agree media coverage and community awareness will really help this sport grow... imagine...  some corporate sponsorship would have been nice!

[rightarm]

Oh, the disappointment with IDBF and Dragon Boat Canada.  If they can't be bothered sending a press release on the event, why even bother asking for funding from businesses, governments and foundations? 

You can't really fault the IDBF, it shouldn't be their responsibility to publicize the participation of countries / regions in particular events... that really lies (and in this case should) with individual members, namely in our country Dragon Boat Canada.  IDBF should be ensuring that its membership is actively promoting the interest of the sport in their own areas.  Compare IDBF to another international entity... for lack of a better example, the IOC:

"Members of the IOC represent and promote the interests of the IOC and of the Olympic Movement in their countries and in the organisations of the Olympic Movement in which they serve" (Olympic Charter 2004, page 28).

Makes sense, no?  Now I'd be very disappointed if it were in fact true that DBC wasn't making attempts to promote the national programme and its results to the mass media... whether or not conglomerates such as Canwest, etc decide to print the material is another matter... like was suggested above, if its not mainstream sport (more often than not only Mens at that), its likely to either not get press or get a very small space in the back of the paper.

In this particular case, I would also question why FCRCC wasn't involved in trying to bring attention on more local level, given the somewhat unique nature of this club's involvement in sending the national premier mixed crew... but then again maybe they did; I sure hope so.

Regardless, we as members of the paddling community are at fault as well... we have influence over the governing bodies that represent our sport, through AGM's, proxy votes, etc etc... if more people took an interest in seeing the sport get more exposure, it would.  Other sports which have more spotlight got that way because someone "gave a ****".  Not to say that there aren't a lot of paddlers who don't, but probably not enough.  And i think we too often keep it within the community rather than trying to bring it to the public at large.  Sure, we as active members of the DB community knew there was a national championships... but honestly, the only reason I knew is because I'm an FCRCC member and I come to DBWest -- but when you examine those two factors, I didn't find out from FCRCC (the club itself) about it, I found out from another FCRCC member (or several) through DB West. 

However in spite of what I've said, Colossus was noting the womens team got some coverage, which is excellent!  But lets see some more!  Media only covers what it thinks people care about, because ultimately media outlets are driven by the need for advertisign dollars, and advertising dollars come with people watching/reading/"giving a ****" about what is being put out there.  If the DB community at large starts to actively promote its events and exceptional programmes such as this, we will start to see it more apparent. 

[gunghaggis]

Dragon Boat Racing is still not officially recognized by Sports BC, to my knowledge.

A few years ago, I organized some coaching theory courses for NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) for dragon boaters.  This was just before the introduction of the first FCRCC coaches clinics led by then FCRCC coach Alan Carlssen. I worked with NCCP guru Erik Broom, who basically set it up for BC.  Dr. Broom is also professor emeritus of UBC Kinetics.

Most of the community reaction was "Why?"

Coaching Association of BC does not even recognize a Dragon Boat division.  Years ago, they referred me to Drew Mitchell, who was also one of the early FCRCC paddlers/builders.

For the 1991 Worlds in Philadelphia, after the FC women medaled... I contacted CBC Radio and set up an interview with FC Women's coach Andrea Dillon.

But yup... until the dragon boat organizers get organized - expect dragon boat to remain beer league - same as the incredibly fast growing of sport ultimate.

Or interested parties could get involved with Dragon Boat Canada, help develop the BC branch of DBC or a metro Van group... and help promote the growth of dragon boating in both the community and the media.

[Backward Rowing]

This is humorous.  Even in Tehran, you could get the mayor out to start a race!








Photos by Mehdi Zare'
http://www.payvand.com/news/06/aug/1083.html

[Viking Paddler]

After seeing this topic I thought I'd give it a go and contact a few of the newspapers and stations here to find out if they covered the Worlds to any degree, and got the following response from one of them which I found interesting.  He said that none of the wire services moved this story therefore the event wasn't covered in his newspaper.  Given that I'm not up on the wire services I thought I'd ask which one(s) he was referring to.  Apparently they get their news from the Associated Press and Reuters.  It also sounded like no press releases were sent to either of these services.  In addition he guessed that the reason they didn't provide coverage on this event was because they didn't find it worth covering.  Ouch!   

I popped onto the Associated Presses website and found out that there was a place for press releases.  Couldn't find one for Reuters, but assume there's a way of forwarding press releases to them.  Now as for who should be doing this is probably a point to debate.    You'd think that the following would apply:

Local Festivals: Local governing body (e.g. ADBRF).
National event: Governing body of the country you're in (e.g. DBC).
Worlds: International governing body (e.g. IDBRF)

Isn't that the way it is in other sports or am I at the start line without a paddle?  Also does every province have a provincial governing body or everything kept at the local level until the Nationals come to town?   

[brainiac]

Concerning FCRCC, the main issue is that all the members spend most of their free time paddling and don't have a lot of time to handle things like public relations. Another factor is that our club's participation wasn't even decided until sometime in the spring when the Toronto team decided to pull out. Personally, I didn't hear the news until August. To be fair, the club did put up a bunch of messages on its web site since late August. They've even entered the 21st century by making an RSS feed available. Finally, if any club members are unhappy with the current state of affairs, they are welcome to volunteer to help out!

[Backward Rowing]

Brainiac, my point is that we all, in varying degrees, do volunteer.  My problem is what does your club do (that being not FCRCC but rather FALSE CREEK CANOE SOCIETY, not DragonZone but rather CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL SOCIETY, etc.)  I am sure they already have a Spam the Media list when it comes to announcing fund raising events. 

My problem is which group should be responsible.  As Viking Paddler has pointed out, should it not be IDBF that sends out press releases to the wire services and major media outlets for world competitions? Since it is Team Canada, should it not be DBC tooting the horn?  Since a national organization is needed to sponsor a team, I can only assume DBC was around in 1991.  Would it not have made sense that some one from DBC would have set up the interview with CBC Radio, rather than GungHaggis on his own initiative?

Rightarm and Glowing_Ice are right.  Press releases does not necessarily mean coverage; however, from my media experience, it sure is easier to write a four paragraph article based on a press release for filler, especially when there is a local or human interest angle.  RA & GI are also right that if there is more mainstream coverage, there is greater chance for funding.  On Network54.com, some punks are saying that this year's men's team sucked because they are from FCRCC, rather than a "real" team from Ontario. What I am saying is that if there is more funding for a national team, we would have a real team from the best across Canada. 

For those of you that are treasurers and managers of crew teams, mainstreaming this sport won't really help with fundraising.  You will probably get the same sponsors now as, let say, local Surrey league adult hockey team would.  What I am talking about is creating an elite national dragon boat programme.  Having those athletes getting paid for transportation, accommodations and some stipend for taking time out of work.  Granted, I am not dreaming of NHL professional nor crazy rowers taking a few years out of their lives for Olympic glory.  But something for Canadians to aspire towards.

Sorry, been in a grumpy mood all this week.

[glowing_ice]

backward rowing... just stay away from the east coast forums. 

the people who post the vile and insulting comments attacking other teams, coaches etc. are very low class.  it's uncalled for and only shows their lack of sportsmanship, competitiveness and respect for other teams.  we don't need to stoop to their level.

[brainiac]

BW, I think I hear what you're saying. One little point of clarification: what is the False Creek Canoe Society?

[Colossus]

On Network54.com, some punks are saying that this year's men's team sucked because they are from FCRCC, rather than a "real" team from Ontario. What I am saying is that if there is more funding for a national team, we would have a real team from the best across Canada. 

Hm, you don't sound much different. 

the trouble with having a team with the "best from across canada" is the different paddling styles.  the members of said dream team would probably need a few months paddling with eachother to achieve suffient blend of paddling style and "teamness".  that would require more time off of work/more sponsorship money etc etc.  as it was, with our mainly west coast paddler team, it was still easy to tell who the non-FC paddlers were simply by paddling style.  we were lucky that the other westies have practiced with us enough over the past two years that integration wasn't difficut, and the easterner we had was able to pick up our style quickly enough so that we performed without any hiccups.

[rightarm]

To be fair, the club did put up a bunch of messages on its web site since late August. They've even entered the 21st century by making an RSS feed available.

I rest my case

[brainiac]

To be fair, the club did put up a bunch of messages on its web site since late August. They've even entered the 21st century by making an RSS feed available.

I rest my case

Which case was that?

[wanker]