Contact:
Michelle Shen-O’Brien, Executive Director
Texas Dragon Boat Association
281-381-7154
tdbaexec@sbcglobal.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HONORARY CO-CHAIR AND TEAM LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL GULF COAST INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT REGATTA
Weekend celebrates the City of Sugar Land’s 50th Anniversary

October 6, 2009, Houston, Texas – The Texas Dragon Boat Association (TDBA) is pleased to announce that Brandon Rogers of the Houston Aeros will be joining the Honorable James Thompson, Mayor of Sugar Land, Joyce Walter, First Colony Community Association Board Member, and Angela Wang, Miss Chinatown Houston 2009, in serving as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 6th Annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta.

During the weekend of October 17-18, Brooks Lake at Fluor Corporation in Sugar Land and its banks will be transformed into a raceway and entertainment venue, showcasing more than 40 competing teams.

Corporate teams currently include: AES NA Central, AET Inc. Limited, CenterPoint Energizers, CGGVeritas - CGGVerifast, Continental Airlines, Exmar Offshore Company-Exmar Deepwater Dragons, Minute Maid Business Unit/The Coca-Cola Company – “Team Minute Maid”, Sam’s Club, Schlumberger, Shell Trade North America, Southern Union, State Farm – The Rowing Good Neighbors, and United Space Alliance.

Community teams include: Asian Pacific Islanders for Professional And Community Advancement - APCA, City of Sugar Land & First Colony Community Association – Sweet ride, City of Sugar Land Police Department – Blue Dragon, Houston Heat, Martial Arts Fitness Academy – Team MAFA, Medical Fitness Pro, Team Fusion (sponsored by Dynasty Builder & Annivate, Inc.), Team Sea Dogs, and the Vietnamese-American Pharmacy Student Society.

Visiting teams include: Austin Coolers, Hillsdale of Oklahoma City, team DPW from LA County. The Cancer Survivor and Friends teams include: Cajun Invasion of Louisiana and Houston’s very own Pink Phurree.

Youth teams, divided into U-14 and U-18 age groups, include: Awty International Middle School, The British School of Houston, Chinese Youth Society – Chinese Community Center (sponsored by CGI Management Service), Clear Lake High School National Chinese Honor Society (Sponsored by 888 Bistro), Clear Lake High School Asian Cultural Society, Dulles Chinese Honor Society (sponsored by United Space Alliance), Houston Parks & Recreation – Team HTOWN, Kinkaid Middle School (sponsored by HWD/Chubb/James Reckling – Frank Comiskey Agency, KIPP Houston High School, Lee High School (sponsored by Fiesta Mart), St. John’s Middle School (sponsored by Pannext Fitting Co., Land Star Investment, and AA Realty), St. John’s Upper School (sponsored by Lee’s Noodle Kitchen), and YES Prep Public School – East End Campus.

Multiple heats will be run in divisions for both amateur and experienced teams. The teams, comprised of men, women, mixed and youth crews are all helping TDBA reach its goal to launch a year-round boating program for youth teams and the building of the TDBA boathouse in Sugar Land.

EVENT DETAILS:
Saturday & Sunday, October 17-18, 2009
8:30AM – 4:30PM
Fluor Corp., 1 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land, Texas
Free Admission to the public

For more information and event/team sponsorship opportunities, contact Michelle Shen-O’Brien, Texas Dragon Boat Association at 281-381-7154 or visit www.texasdragonboat.com.

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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