About Us
The IDBF is an international non-governmental, non-profit world organisation for dragon boating and other paddle sport activities.
With the objects of encouraging the development of the sport of Dragon Boat Racing and of maintaining its Asian cultural, historical and religious traditions and of strengthening the bonds of friendship that unite those who practice it, the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was founded on June 24th, 1991 in Hong Kong by the Governing Associations of Australia, the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, the Republic of Philippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Thirty years later and the IDBF has developed dragon boating into a major global modern day sport that still maintains its ancient Chinese traditions.
The IDBF is recognised by the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF), formerly SportAccord, as the Full Member International Sports Federation (IF) specifically governing dragon boating on a world-wide basis.
Values
Respect
Teamwork
Community
Objectives
1. To protect and maintain the Asian cultural, historical and religious traditions of Dragon Boating
2. To promote and develop the sport of Dragon Boat Racing
3. To ensure that the International Regattas are governed by Rules of Racing adapted to the development of the sport of Dragon Boat Racing
4. To encourage the organization of International Regattas open to all Member Associations and their Member Clubs
5. To establish International Championship Regattas under the titles of World Championships
6. To maintain the principles of amateurism in all competitions according to the definition of an amateur and the rules laid down in the IDBF Rules of Racing
7. To encourage the formation of Governing Associations in countries where none exist
Mission
The IDBF shall observe the general and fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and IOC Manual on sport and the environment. The IDBF is committed to the following principles of service to its Members:
- To support and maintain the authority and autonomy of its Members and to promote closer links between its Members
- To convey to other organizations the views of its Members and to co-ordinate and protect the common interests its Members.
- To collaborate, on behalf of its Members, with organization having as an objective the promotion of sport and particularly those paddle sports in which the use of the single bladed paddle is paramount. The IDBF Council may offer or countenance competitive events for watercraft, of any Design, propelled by a single blade paddle.
- To collect, collate and circulate information form, to and among its Members and to publish an annual Calendar of IDBF sanctioned events.