The Macao Open dragon boat race opened on Sai Van Lake in Macao on Saturday.

More than 120 teams are competing in the three-day event on the artificial lake opposite to the Lisboa Casino, the most famous landmark in Macao.

The Hip Lek Sports and Recreation Club's team and the Macao Polytechnic Institute's team won the men's and the women's final in the newly-introduced small dragon boat race, respectively, on Saturday.

Small dragon boat made its debut in the Macao Open this year. The boat made of plastic materials can take 10 rowing men as compared with the traditional wooden boat, which allows twice as many rowers. The low-cost and more sporting small boat racing is getting popular.

Dragon boat race, a traditional sports held in commemoration of a late Chinese patriotic poet Qu Yuan has over 2,000 years of history. The formal commemoration day will fall on next Monday this year, when the final of the tournament will be staged.

The Macao event sponsored by the Macao Sports Development Board and Macao China Dragon Boat Association has an international fame and this year's race has attracted teams from the Chinese mainland, the Philippines and the Untied States.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2004)