13/05/2026
In EP04 of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando are joined by Claudio Schermi, President of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of Dragon Boating and why one statement matters so much:
“We are a sport.”
Broadcast live from Macau, Claudio shares exclusive insight into the global growth of dragon boating, the recent milestone of establishing the IDBF headquarters in Hong Kong, and what it will take for dragon boating to gain greater recognition on the world stage.
In this episode:
• The global expansion of dragon boating across 80+ member federations
• Why dragon boating must be recognised as its own sport, not a discipline
• The role of club crews and why they are the foundation of the sport
• The pathway toward Olympic recognition and global legitimacy
• The economic and cultural impact of major dragon boat events
Plus:
👉 Hando’s Phantom Call returns with a fast-paced 100m race simulation
👉 60 Seconds with Dougie featuring rapid-fire insights from the paddling community
👉 Hot Take of the Week: Technique vs power — what actually wins races?
This episode goes beyond racing. It is about identity, growth, recognition, and where dragon boating is heading on the global stage.
Visit: https://paddlesready.com
Subscribe to Paddles Ready for more dragon boat stories, interviews, race talk, club conversations, and global paddling insight.
Click the link below:
https://youtu.be/XpgyGpUL4to?si=1Wk6ObsUmWqUFXc6
s dragon boating ready for Olympic recognition — and what has to change for the sport to reach the next level?In EP04 of Paddles Ready, Dougie and Hando are ...
