FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM AUGUST 8, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 51
buzz
her-story in Flushing Meadows
races, which also featured live entertainment,
food trucks and giveaways. More than 2,500
participants came from across the United
States and Canada to race at the 2019 festival.
Th rough the Hong Kong Economic and
Trade Offi ce, Wan started the festival in
1990 when teams raced on the Hudson
River in Battery Park City. Now, it runs as an
independent nonprofi t that receives funding
through company sponsorships.
“Our goal is just trying to put together a
great community event in the park and we’re
very glad to see so much support from the
community, from the mainstream media
and from the big corporations,” said Wan.
In Chinese culture, dragon boat racing is
used to commemorate the life of poet and
performer Qu Yan. According to legend, Yan
drowned himself in the third century B.C. to
protest against the emperor’s policies. Locals
raced in dragon boats to save his body while
beating drums and splashing paddles. Th ey
threw rice dumplings and into the water to
prevent fi sh and water dragons from eating
him.
“I think that it is an amazing tribute that
so many people show up year aft er year,” said
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.
“Th ank you for celebrating our 190 countries
and 200 languages that we have here in
the borough of Queens. Our diversity’s the
gift we give the rest of the United States of
America and so we are so happy every year
when people come out.”
/WWW.QNS.COM
