PUTRAJAYA TO HOST DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL FROM JUNE 18

PUTRAJAYA, March 18 (Bernama) -- For the second year running, Putrajaya will
host the 1Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival from June 18 to 20, to
position Malaysia as the home of dragon boat racing.

Organising chairman Herman Chin said dragon boat racing was among the
fastest growing team water sports, with participation estimated at more than 20
million people in 62 countries.

"Dragon boat racing has now become a global phenomenon. Traditionally
celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, it
often falls in June of the Gregorian calendar," he said Thursday.

Chin said the event would see about 1,500 participants at the Putrajaya
Water Sports Complex.

The race is divided into two main categories -- international and local
teams. Each category has sub-categories of open, mixed, women and junior (below
23 years).

There is also a special category for Malaysian clubs, corporate teams and
government departments.

Putrajaya is a planned city, located south of Kuala Lumpur, that serves as
the federal administrative centre of Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA