TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Hualien County signed an agreement with the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF, 國際龍舟聯合會) on Thursday (Oct. 23), launching preparations for the 2026 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC). The Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association (中華龍舟協會) expressed hope that the event will boost tourism and foster cultural exchange in the region.
County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚) expressed Hualien's commitment to showcasing Taiwan's strengths and promoting local tourism and cultural exchange. She highlighted Hualien's resilience and recent success in national sports, emphasizing the county's recovery from past disasters. Deputy Sports Minister Cheng Shih-chung (鄭世忠) also noted that Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) has allocated NT$8 billion in the expanded domestic demand budget to support international sports events.
Chinese Taipei Dragon Boat Association chairman, Wang Chin-Te (汪錦德), emphasized that the CCWC will encourage cultural exchange and highlight indigenous features. IDBF Chairman Claudio Schermi also assured that the event would prioritize fairness and athlete welfare, urging global teams to prepare for high-level competition.
The county government plans to train international volunteer teams, aiming to provide excellent service to participants and spectators and elevate Taiwan's presence in the global sports arena. Hualien has also secured the 2026 International Children's Games (ICG), with the Ministry of Sports (運動部) continuing to work with local governments to enhance Taiwan's international sports visibility.
