Thanks to the 2008 Regatta Sponsors! Abreast in a Boat AT&T - APCA Cajun Invasion Pink Phurree St. John's Middle School St. John's Upper School West U Baptist Church

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 22, 2006 (Revised: October 17, 2006)
Contact: Marla Massey / Associate Executive Director
(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 ANNOUNCES HONORARY CO-CHAIRS OF THE 3RD ANNUAL GULF COAST INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT REGATTA

(HOUSTON (August 22, 2006) --The Texas Dragon Boat Association (TDBA) is pleased to name the Honorable Sylvia R. Garcia, Harris County Commissioner, Precinct Two and the Honorable John Manlove, Mayor of the City of Pasadena, as Honorary Co-Chairs of the 3rd annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta.

Teams from across North America will compete Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday Oct. 22, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Pasadena Lake at Clear Lake Park.

“Now in its third year, the Regatta has grown to become one of the Bay Area’s most anticipated sporting events,” said Commissioner Garcia. “I am thrilled to be involved again this year and pleased to see our community take such an active role in sharing Asian culture and the ancient tradition of dragon boat racing.”

Dragon boats are elaborately decorated; 47-foot long vessels crewed by teams of 20 paddlers, one drummer and one steersperson. Corporate, community, municipal, breast cancer survivor and youth teams will compete over the two-day event. The Regatta also features live entertainment including music, dance, children's activities and a variety of Asian cuisine. Admission is free.

“I am honored to host this exciting cultural and sporting event in the City of Pasadena,” said Mayor Manlove.  “We expect another great turnout this year and look forward to introducing visitors and residents alike to our diverse recreational and entertainment opportunities.  We have it all in this area, everything from space travel to dragon boat races.”

2006 Regatta sponsors to date include RBC Dain Rauscher – Dock Sponsor, ATI – Mineral Water Sponsor, Panda Restaurant Group – Media/Hospitality Area Sponsor, Continental Airlines – Official Airline Sponsor and Quality Inn-NASA as Host Hotel

Team Sponsors are: AT&T / SBC, CenterPoint Energy, Direct Energy, Exmar Offshore Company, ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, JP Morgan Chase, Shell Trading, Silver Eagle Distributors, Space City Professionals Association, United Space Alliance, Wal-Mart

Asian Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Blind Fury (Lighthouse for the Blind, Taping for the Blind, City of Houston Parks and Recreation), City of Kemah / Kemah Development Council, City of Nassau Bay, FACOST, Global Federation of Chinese Business Women, Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Houston Police Department, Houston Baptist University, Houston Rowing Club of Watergate, League City Chamber of Commerce, Martial Art Fitness Academy, Texas Chiropractic College

Alief YMCA (sponsored by City of Kemah), Chinese Youth Society (sponsored by City of Kemah), Beresford School, Clear Lake High School (sponsored by Space Center Family Practice), Clear Lake High School Chinese Honor Society (sponsored by Alex Rodriquez Mercedes Benz), Dulles High School, FACOST Youth (sponsored by City of Kemah), Girls Scouts of San Jacinto (sponsored by Cole Chemical), KIPP Houston High School, St. John’s Upper School (sponsored by Sienna Plantation/River Stone), St. John’s Middle School (sponsored by PanNext Fittings Corp.)

Collegiate Cancer Council of UH, Draggin’ Queens I & II (sponsored by Bayshore Medical Center), Komen Breast Cancer Survivors I, II & III

AeroDragons – El Segundo, CA,  Cajun Invasion –  Lafayette, LA, Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Club – Tampa Bay, FL, The Hope Chest – Buffalo, NY and Wild Wild West Dragons – Long Beach, CA.

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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