Fight on the water! These projects of the World Games allow you to experience "Raise and Advance"

Cover News Reporter Ma Xiaoyu

On August 6, the 12th World Games officially kicked off in Chengdu. Water projects such as motorboats, kayaking, and dragon boats will also compete fiercely in Sancha Lake, Chengdu, Sichuan. It’s a hot summer that’s unbearable. This issue lets us cool off the summer and learn about the unique charm of these competitions that can “play with water”.

Motorboat: The combination of surfing and technology

Have you ever been by the water, fantasizing that you can gallop freely on the water like the protagonist in a martial arts novel? Powered surfboards can help you realize this wish!

The Chengdu World Games motorboat event has a small event of power surfboard, which originated in the Czech Republic. At first, people took advantage of the power of the waves to stand on wooden boards and glide on the sea surface, feeling the wonderful feeling of being integrated with the sea. With the development of the times and the continuous improvement of people's pursuit of water sports, powered surfboards have emerged. In 2018, power surfboard became one of the water sports events officially promoted by the Water Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sports.

Chengdu World Games is the first time that the power surfboard sports have appeared on the stage of the World Games. The competition requires athletes to use fuel surfboards to follow the track and direction of travel set by the buoy. On the field, the contestants drove the power surfboards, sailing at lightning, and drew beautiful arcs on the clear lake surface, showing the ultimate fusion of speed and skills.

Of course, while chasing speed and passion, the risk of this competition cannot be ignored. On the field, all athletes must wear helmets, neck protection and foot ropes. During the process, if you actively miss the float or irresponsible driving behavior, such as dangerous overtaking actions, intentional collisions, etc., you will be punished when you extend the circle or punish. Those with serious behavior will be disqualified from participating.

Kayak: From fishing and hunting tools to the competition venue

Kayak originated in Europe. According to the equipment, it is divided into kayaks and rowing boats. The kayak originated from a small boat made by the Inuits on Greenland. This boat is wrapped in whale skins and otter skins on bone racks and rows with paddles with blades at both ends. Rowing boats originated in Canada, so they are also called Canadian rowing boats.

In fact, both boats evolved from canoes, which were water labor transportation vehicles that human ancestors had been widely used in fishing, hunting and transportation in primitive society.

The 2025 Chengdu World Games Kayaking Project has three sub-items: kayak marathon, dragon boat and kayak ball. Among them, the Kayaking Marathon was unveiled as a competition event for the first time at the 2022 World Games. It is more popular in Europe and Australia and has gradually emerged in China in recent years. This sport combines water paddling techniques and land running techniques, and athletes need to have superb paddling skills, strong strength and endurance. "Parking a boat or running a boat" is a unique part of the project, making the competition interesting and ornamental.

Kayaking is not only a sport, but also a leisurely outdoor event suitable for ordinary people to participate in. It is simple, easy to learn and has high safety.

You can drive a kayak to any location you want to go, see islands and caves, birds and swimming fish, or as a team building activity, there are many ways to play kayak dragons, three boats and four oars, etc.

Dragon Boat: a team competition

dragon boat, which was said to have originated in the Warring States Period in our country. It is a sport spontaneously carried out among the people to commemorate Qu Yuan.

From Shaanxi to Yunnan, then to Guangdong and other places, the dragon boat racing will be staged one after another in different regions from the third lunar month to the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth lunar month. At the same time, dragon boat racing has also developed many different forms, and its competitiveness has been continuously enhanced.

Before launching the water, the headlines should be highlighted by local respected people. When the old dragon boat goes into the water, it also has to undergo a special ritual. Legend has it that people hope to give their dragon vitality in this way. How long can a dragon boat be? In Hunan, the longest dragon boat can ride 126 people, up to 62 meters long, which is equivalent to more than 20 stories high when standing.

The dragon boat race with a history of thousands of years has now developed into an international sports competition program. At the 2025 Chengdu World Games, dragon boats made their first official competition as a sub-item of the kayak competition. There are 12 teams, each team has helmsman, drummer and rowers. The helmsman controls the direction of progress, and the drummer controls the rhythm of the paddle by beating the drum. The rower rows the paddle simultaneously according to the rhythm, pushing the boat forward.

Dragon Boat Competition emphasizes collective cooperation and requires each team member to break through personal will and physical limitations and complete the competition with a team spirit. In addition, dragon boat racing has inherited and promoted traditional culture, promoted competitive exchanges, and further demonstrated the national spirit.