On December 18, the inauguration ceremony for the International Dragon Boat Team of Wenzhou University took place at the Wenzhou University Dragon Boat Base. The event was attended by the leaders from School of Physical Education and Health(SPEH), and the College of International Education(CIE), along with Zhu Minyuan, coach of the team, as well as its team members and both faculty and student representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Lin Aiju, Secretary of the CIE Party Committee.
With a warm and festive atmosphere, Ye Jianqiang, Deputy Dean of SPEH, and Zheng Ting, Deputy Dean of CIE, signed a cooperation agreement on establishing an international dragon boat team, officially unveiling the Wenzhou University International Dragon Boat Team.
Ding Qiang, Deputy Secretary of the the CIE Party Committee, issued a letter of appointment to Coach Zhu Minyuan. It was our common hope that under Coach Zhu's expert guidance, the team would brave the winds and waves to compete for top honors.
Li Li, Deputy Secretary of the SPEH Party Committee, presented the team flag to Captain LA VAN DAT of the international dragon boat team. LA VAN DAT, an international student from Vietnam, enthusiastically received the flag, stating, "Dragon boating is a fascinating activity. As captain, I will uphold my responsibilities and lead the team in rigorous training, ensuring each paddle stroke is filled with strength and passion, thereby showcasing the unique charm of Chinese dragon boat culture to more people”.
Zhou Dekui, Secretary of the SPEH Party Committee, and Secretary Lin Aiju painted the dragon's eyes on the dragon boat. Their drawings symbolized the team's unwavering determination. Following the ceremony, the team delighted the audience with a mesmerizing dragon boat performance. Their synchronized paddling movements resembled a dragon emerging from the water, creating a magnificent spectacle. With loud slogans echoing and passionate drum beats accompanying them, the team galloped across the water, their splashing paddles symbolizing the bloom of their passion.
Wenzhou, known as the "hometown of Chinese dragon boat culture", boasts a long-standing tradition of "one village, one boat, one oar for thousands of years". The establishment of the Wenzhou University International Dragon Boat Team aims to inject new vitality into this millennia-old cultural heritage, enabling the ancient dragon boat culture to flourish on the campus of the new era. It serves as a cultural bridge connecting the world and Wenzhou, tradition and modernity, and the East and the West. The team will continue to explore the unique allure of dragon boat culture and emerge as a pivotal ambassador for the global dissemination of dragon boat culture. With youthful vigor and an entrepreneurial spirit, the imprint of dragon boat culture will be indelibly etched onto the multicultural landscape of the world amidst the tide of international cultural exchanges.
