Until recently the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing was unheard of within the non-Chinese community. Today it is one of the fastest growing athletic events in the world. In fact, in 1998 special international dragon boat races were held as a prelude to the Commonwealth Games in Penang, Malaysia. The International Dragon Boat Federation, headquartered in London, hopes this step will lead to the eventual incorporation of the sport in the Commonwealth Games, as well as inclusion as a demonstration sport in future Olympic Games.
Dragon boat racing owes much of its popularity to the dragon boat festival in Hong Kong, an event that has played host to international competition since 1976. Much of what is known about this unique sport has been handed down over the centuries, filtering through these races in Hong Kong. Hidden behind the popular legends of the festival, however, is a much darker side - a history enshrouded in fertility rights, superstitions and human sacrifice.