Beijing Xicheng Community Youth Club Dragon Boat Competition, the first of its kind, was held at the Beijing Jinfan Water Sport Club on May 29. A total of 34 teams registered for this competition. They included teams from 13 central authorities, enterprises, and institutions like the National People’s Congress (NPC), the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Ministry of Education (MOE), teams from five youth league organizations from such districts as of Dongcheng and Chaoyang, as well as 16 community youth clubs in Xicheng District.

The youth league committees of the OUC and National Centre for Educational Technology joined to make up one team and participated in the competition on behalf of the MOE. 

The MOE’s Dragon Boat Team was made up of 25 members. The average age was 29 years old, with the oldest being 41 years old and youngest 24 years old. The team members from the OUC came from the School of Arts and Law, International Cooperation and Exchange Department, Department of Teaching Resources Management, and the OUC Press. Through intense competition, accompanied by the loud sounds of beating drums and chants of “Dragon Boat Competition, Education is Coolest; Passion in Hands, Row to the Future ” shouted out by the team members, the Dragon Boat Team of the MOE won third prize with the score of 1 minute 29 seconds. As an amateur team, the MOE’s team had no prior professional training. However, they made a concerted effort and sailed in the same boat under the scorching sun, which fully demonstrated the enterprising spirit of the youth in the education circle and their youthful perseverance.  

The dragon boat competition is a demonstration of the spirit of carrying forward regional youth league committee construction and community youth club activities in an all round way promoted by Beijing Xicheng District Youth League Committee. It has achieved good results in preserving Chinese traditional holiday culture and strengthening youth physique and youth exchanges, and so is welcomed by all people. 

By Dai Jing, the OUC (Photos by Wang Shuo)