International Ambassadors for Dragon Boat Festival

Cascine Park (Piazzale delle Cascine), Florence’s largest public park on the famous Arno river. The city will welcome over 4,000 visitors from all over the world. Although the participants of the races consist mainly of women between the ages of 20 and 80 years old who engage in Dragon Boat paddling as a form of post-operative rehabilitation as breast cancer survivors, but they will also be accompanied by their family and friends who will cheer them on.

This summer’s competition on the Arno River from July 3 – 8. marks the first time the Dragon Boat Festival has been held in Europe since its establishment in 2005. This year’s festival will involve 129 teams, providing representation from all continents for the first time. Apart from the races, the week is sure to be full of demonstrations, workshops and social events aimed at awareness and dialogue within the large international community of breast cancer survivors.

The organizers of this event are looking for team ambassadors who will be a liaison between teams and staff, help them with language issues, provide restaurant recommendations, and help guide participants through their stay in Florence. Those interested are welcome to attend a Dragon Boat Festival Meeting on April 11 at St. James Church undercroft, via Rucellai 9 from 5 – 7 pm.

There will be 128 ambassadors total and 26 English-speaking ambassadors are still needed.

Each ambassador MUST be available July 7 and 8, which are the competition days. For more information about the event visit http://www.florencebcs2018.org or visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FlorenceBCSfestival2018/. If you are interested in being an ambassador please contact Jocelyn Fitzgerald and Libby at ambassadors@florencebcs2018.org.  (anna rosin)