The Municipality of Ruse received the flag for the host city of the World Dragon Boat Championship in 2025

Monday, 11 November 2024

Representatives of the Municipality of Ruse joined the Bulgarian delegation that participated in the World Dragon Boat Championship in the Philippines. The prestigious competition was held in the city of Puerto Princesa in early November and was attended by the Deputy Mayor Encho Enchev and the Director of the Municipal Enterprise "Sports Properties" Lacezar Ivanov. The Bulgarian national team in dragon boats competes in the championship.

The official invitation to the citizens of Ruse was sent by the International Canoe Kayak Federation, as Ruse will host the World Championship in 2025.

During the competition, Encho Enchev and Lachezar Ivanov, together with members of the Bulgarian Canoe Kayak Federation, took part in a technical conference to exchange experience, share positive practices and specify specific details in the competition.

In the conversations, the citizens of Ruse told how the first Republican Dragon Boat Championship in Bulgaria and the Dragon Boat Festival in 2024 took place. 

In a meeting with the leaders of the delegations of all 27 nations participating in the competition, Enchev and Ivanov presented video materials about Ruse and the Lipnik Forest Park, where the World Championship will be held in 2025. After their presentation, the delegations demonstrated a strong interest in Ruse and Bulgaria and 7 countries immediately confirmed their participation in next year's World Cup. These are Spain, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Iran and India.

Lacezar Ivanov explained that the International Canoe Kayak Federation holds two types of world championships in the discipline of dragon boats, which alternate. This year in the Philippines, the competition was attended by the national teams of the countries. Next year, club teams from all over the world will take part in Ruse, which means that several teams can arrive from one country.

The citizens of Ruse also supported the rowers from the Bulgarian national team, who competed in the different disciplines. In the 500 m and 200 m the Bulgarian team ranked 7th, and in the 2 km distance the Bulgarians remained eighth.

At the end of the sports forum, the solemn ceremony of handing over the flag took place. The President of the International Canoe Kayak Federation Tomas Konietzko handed the flag to Encho Enchev, Lacezar Ivanov and Lazarina Petkova, sports organizer at the Bulgarian Canoe Kayak Federation. Konjetzko wished them success and a worthy performance as hosts in 2025, when more than 2000 competitors from 5 continents are expected to arrive in Ruse. They will compete in the disciplines of 200 m, 500 m and 2 km. The participants will be divided into men, women, mixed teams, juniors and girls. 

The Ruse delegation received special certificates for participation in the World Championship. "We thank the hosts for the professional organization and warm welcome," said Lacezar Ivanov. He believes that Ruse will perform very worthily, as the organizing team has the necessary experience and skills to conduct international competitions.    

"We have serious preparations ahead, but we will manage and promote Ruse as a sports, tourist and cultural center," Deputy Mayor Encho Enchev is also convinced. According to him, the people of Ruse take the flag of the World Cup with the ambition of a successful performance in 2025 and with the desire to establish the city as a leading destination for international events in Bulgaria.

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