Paris's first women's dragon boat team, composed of breast cancer survivors, expressed excitement over showcasing the Chinese national sport at the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The dragon boat team, whose members are all locals with an average age of 45, participated in the torch relay of the Olympic opening ceremony.
Established in 2016, it is the first women's dragon boat team in Paris. Team leader Carole has been involved in the sport for nine years.
"I had breast cancer and the dragon boat is an activity that helps the body to regain mobility after surgeries. I did not know dragon boat before. Thanks to a Canadian doctor, I came to know the dragon boat. In 1995, he found that after breast cancer surgery, woman should participate in physical activity for regaining their energy of life," said Carole.
"Whether it is snowing or it's hot, that is not a problem for us, we will still row the dragon boat. We row under rain, we row in snow, we row against the wind. We row no matter what. This is what we agreed," she said.
Knowing they would be a part of the opening ceremony, Carole said the whole team was excited and felt greatly encouraged.
"This year marks the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China. For me, making dragon boat known through the Olympics is a great pleasure and we are very proud of presenting the Chinese sport in France and in Paris," she said.
The 2024 Paris Olympics includes dragon boat racing as a demonstration sport.
Breast cancer survivors thrilled to showcase dragon boat racing at Olympic opening ceremony
