European Dragon Boat Federation

The European Dragon Boat Federation (EDBF) was formally constituted at a meeting of its Founder Members held, at the Hazewinkle Watersports Centre, Mechelen, Belgium, on Saturday 5th May 1990.

Representatives from the following European Nations were present at the meeting, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Germany, the Founder Members, with written support for the proposed EDBF Constitution coming from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. Messages of support were received from Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Poland and Portugal.

The role of the EDBF is to develop the sport of Dragon Boat Racing, in its modern era, and to ensure that festival based Dragon Boating retains its traditions and remains a sport and recreation to be enjoyed at all levels, by as many people as possible. This the EDBF seeks to achieve without too many unnecessary rules and regulations or too much officialdom.

The philosophy of the EDBF is that Dragon Boating is great fun and a very social sport. At basic level the EDBF believes that Dragon Boat Racing should be organised with this in mind, thus keeping it well within the capabilities of the average able-bodied or disabled person.

The formal Articles laid down in the EDBF Statutes, together with the Bye-Laws, Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing are designed to create an organisation, within which, the cultural background and traditions and the social aspects of Dragon Boating are preserved; the competitive aspects of Dragon Boat Racing enhanced; and the ideals on which the EDBF is founded maintained.

The purpose of the EDBF, therefore is to provide an international organisation for the general conduct of Dragon Boating and the development of Dragon Boat Racing, as a recognised sport within Europe and to represent the interests of its member Governing Dragon Boat Associations and Groups with other organisations.