DBS Marina Regatta 2013 attracts 12,000 during dragon boat races

Team participation up 50%.

In a release, the organizers of DBS Marina Regatta 2013, Singapore’s biggest water sports festival, said the event drew in a crowd of over 12,000 during the Dragon Boat Races. It also had close to 140 dragon boating teams register from around the region, up 50% from last year, including top national teams from Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Now in its second year, DBS Marina Regatta saw increased participation across all race categories. More than twice the number of teams participated in this year’s DBS International Premier race categories and the DBS Tertiary race categories compared to the previous year. This is also the first time that local tertiary dragon boaters competed with their peers from the region on an international race platform in the waters of Singapore, the organizers said.

Female participation also increased to close to 700 athletes compared to over 400 last year. The sport has also gained traction among corporations, with 11 companies fielding dragon boating teams for the first time.

Held annually in partnership with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA), the DBS Marina Regatta kept audiences entertained with more than 100 cosplayers and 15 percussion groups, as well as 30 social enterprises, who provided refreshments, entertainment and the sale of merchandise.

“The DBS Marina Regatta just got bigger and better. While the international dragon boat races are over, we hope that people will come back again next weekend for the DBS Marina Regatta - Bay Festival, where there are many fun and engaging activities awaiting them. This weekend’s dragon boat races have truly brought life to the Bay and we hope that with the Bay Festival, we will continue to make the bay more accessible to the people,” said Sim S. Lim, Singapore Country Head, DBS Bank.

DBS said members of the public can expect an even more engaging experience this coming weekend at DBS Marina Regatta – Bay Festival on 24 and 25 May. More than 1,000 people will have the opportunity to try out dragon boating, kayaking and sailing free of charge during the Bay Festival.

Other upcoming activities include rousing drum competitions and performances by popular local artistes such as Electrico, Jack & Rai, Jessica Soo and The Ferdinands.

DBS is also leveraging on phoneography to get athletes, crew and spectators to share their DBS Marina Regatta experiences by posting their photos or videos on popular social media platforms. Selected works will be featured at Singapore’s first phoneography awards ceremony at the Bay Festival.

DBS Bank said it is investing S$10 million over the next three years to enable people from all walks of life to enjoy Marina Bay. The initiative is part of the bank’s continuing efforts to engage the community, enliven the Bay, and to share the vibrancy and dynamism of Singapore’s new financial downtown with a wider population.