Paddlers from the Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, Singapore, the United States and other parts of the globe are set to participate in the 3rd Boracay International Dragot Boat Festival on April 30, Thursday in Boracay Island, Kalibo, Aklan.

The three-day event is organized by the Boracay Island Paddlers Association (BIPA) with help from the municipality of Malay, the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation and the Philippine Department of Tourism.

The race program posted on BoracayDragonBoat.ph states that there will be 300-meter and 500-meter races in the categories of Men’s Open Race, Women’s Race, and Mixed Race.

Practice sessions for the visiting teams are slated on April 30. The 500-meter races will begin on May 1 while the 300-meter races will be held on May 2.

According to BIPA, dragon boating was introduced in Boracay in 2001. Since then, annual dragon boat race competitions have been held in Boracay until BIPA formally organized the 1st Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival in 2007.