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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 29, 2006
Marla Massey
Texas Dragon Boat Association
marla.massey@sbcglobal.net
281-808-6855
www.texasdragonboat.com

For additional photos contact
Annabelle Ruch
akruch@aol.com
(832) 771-7661
Photos available upon request

TEXAS DRAGON BOAT ASSOCIATION NAMES HONORARY CO-CHAIRS OF 2006 HOUSTON DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

HOUSTON (March 29, 2006) --The Texas Dragon Boat Association (TDBA) is pleased to announce Consul General Hua Jinzhou of the People’s Republic of China and Houston City Council Member Carol Alvarado will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the 6th Annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival. Mayor Bill White will also be in attendance and deliver remarks at the opening ceremony.

More than 5,000 Houstonians are expected to attend this year’s competition on Saturday, May 6, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Allen’s Landing in downtown. Dragon boats are elaborately decorated 47-foot long vessels crewed by teams of 20 paddlers, one drummer and one steersperson.  Corporate, community, youth and cancer survivor teams will race down a 250-meter stretch along Buffalo Bayou as they compete for the revered “Dragon Cup.”

“I commend the Texas Dragon Boat Association for coming together to promote and uphold the ancient tradition of dragon boating and the heritage of Asian Americans in the region,” said Consul General Hua Jinzhou of the People’s Republic of China.

“In 1836, the Allen Brothers purchased 8,800 acres of land on Buffalo Bayou.  Allen’s Landing is part of our beautifully transformed downtown Houston, an area that I am honored to represent,” said Houston City Council Member Carol Alvarado. “The Houston Dragon Boat Festival is one of the city’s most culturally significant events. I am proud to be part of an event that showcases our city and draws such a diverse crowd to its festivities each year.”

Co-sponsored by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, spectators and attendees of this free public event can celebrate Asian culture as they enjoy diverse cuisine along with a variety of entertainment options including music, dance and children’s activities.

“We are honored to have Consul General Hua Jinzhou and Council Member Carol Alvarado as our event co-chairs for this year’s festival,” said TBDA President/Executive Director Caroline Long. “The Houston Festival is quickly becoming a favorite spring celebration for many within the community. We look forward to another successful and well attended event.”

Texas Dragon Boat Association

The Texas Dragon Boat Association is a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation established to promote the tradition and sport of dragon boating, increase awareness of Asian and Asian American culture, and enhance cross-cultural understanding. TDBA organizes the Houston Dragon Boat Festival in downtown Houston each May and the Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta in Bay Area Houston each October.

The American Dragon Boat Association is a volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion of friendship, fun, and education between teams and communities. Its mission is to promote cultural understanding on a worldwide basis and educate the public to the benefits of working together through the sport of dragon boat racing.

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