Under the warm spring sun in Tempe Town Lake, Arizona, the resilience and success of the Taiwanese immigrant community were showcased at the 20th Arizona Dragon Boat Festival on March 28th. The “Team Taiwan Dragon Boat Association”, representing the spirit of Taiwanese immigrants, stood out among 29 strong competitors and clinched the third place in the Corporate Division A finals with an excellent time of 1 minute and 4 seconds, setting a new record since its establishment.
During a moment in the competition, the Taiwanese diaspora present at the event was greatly uplifted. At the beginning of the race, the organizers referred to the Taiwanese team as “Chinese Taipei”. In response, Overseas Community Affairs Council member Wu Wen-rui and former president Yen Yu-ping promptly raised their concerns with the organizing committee. Following active negotiations, the organizers corrected the name and publicly explained, officially reverting to calling the team “Team Taiwan”.
This successful “name rectification” not only defended the dignity of the team but also garnered enthusiastic applause from the diaspora in attendance.
The “Taiwan Dragon Boat Association”, affiliated with the Arizona Taiwanese Association, has evolved into a highly representative sports community since its inception in 2018 under the guidance of coach Huang Chun-ze and the initiation by former president Wu Wen-rui. Led by current president Wang Yi-wei, the members have demonstrated the diversity of Taiwanese immigrants.
Wang Yi-wei introduced that the dragon boat team members include students from Arizona State University (ASU), employees of Taiwanese companies such as TSMC, and their families. Ranging from teenagers as young as 16 to seniors above 60, they embody unity through generational inheritance. The team has recently completed registration with the state government’s ACC, and with the assistance of pro bono lawyers, applied for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization status, advancing towards professional development.
Amid fierce competition at the event, facing thousands of participants from across the United States and Canada, Team Taiwan showcased the results of months of intensive training. In the Corporate Division finals, the Taiwanese team finished just 0.5 seconds behind the second-place finisher, ultimately securing the third-place position with a time of 1 minute and 4 seconds.
Wang Yi-wei mentioned that this year saw the involvement of over 30 players and volunteers, expressing gratitude for the support of Director Chung Pei-chen from the Los Angeles Overseas Community Education Services Center, who took time out of her busy schedule to cheer on the team during practices, and for the continuous meal provisions from the Taiwanese Association. She stated, “This achievement belongs to all team members; it is everyone’s sweat and unity that has made the name of Taiwan echo by the shores of Tempe Town Lake”.
As the competition concluded, the Taiwan Dragon Boat Association expressed its commitment to continue promoting dragon boat sport. It aims not only for competitive success but also to deepen the connection between Taiwan and the local community through this cultural and sporting activity. Wu Wen-rui affirmed that Taiwanese immigrants will continue to wield their paddles, allowing the spirit of “Team Taiwan” to shine brightly across North America.