IDBF appoints Natacha Tremblay as Chair of the Women’s Commission

The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is proud to announce the appointment of Natacha Tremblay as Chair of the Women’s Commission. This appointment highlights the IDBF’s commitment to promoting and supporting the development, participation, and recognition of women in the sport of dragon boat racing at all levels..

Natacha Tremblay, a seasoned leader, coach, and advocate for women in sports, brings over three decades of experience in coaching, sports management, and athlete development to her new role. Her extensive career has been dedicated to enhancing performance, inclusivity, and leadership in canoe-kayak, dragon boat, and physical fitness.

Her dragon boat journey includes founding the first Parisian Dragon Boat Club in 2014, a ground-breaking initiative that quickly gained traction. Recognising the importance of accessibility and representation, she co-authored and delivered France’s first Dragon Boat Breast Cancer Certification in 2015, providing a framework for empowering breast cancer survivors through paddling.

In addition to her coaching accomplishments, Tremblay has held leadership roles in sports management and policy development across various national institutions, boards, and administrations in multiple countries. She has received awards for her contributions to adaptive fitness and inclusive training, further emphasising her commitment to mentorship, inclusivity, and strategic development.

As Chair of the Women’s Commission, Tremblay will lead efforts to develop strategies and initiatives aimed at advancing the involvement of women in dragon boat racing. She will work closely with the IDBF Executive Committee and relevant stakeholders to advocate for gender equality, encourage participation by women, and address issues impacting female paddlers globally.

“We are delighted to welcome Natacha Tremblay as the Chair of the Women’s Commission,” said IDBF President Claudio Schermi. “Her vast experience and unwavering dedication to women’s sports make her the perfect fit for this role. We look forward to working with her to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and representation of women in dragon boat racing.”

The IDBF Women’s Commission is committed to raising the visibility and accessibility of women in dragon boat racing, expanding opportunities for participation and leadership, and advocating for greater representation at all levels of the sport. By creating clear pathways for growth, the commission aims to develop sustainable mentorship and educational resources that empower athletes and women in meaningful roles while fostering an inclusive and safe sporting environment.

Natacha can be contacted at chair-womens@dragonboat.sport

About the IDBF
The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) is the global governing body for dragon boat racing. Founded in 1991, in Hong Kong China, it oversees and promotes the sport of dragon boat paddling across the world. With a mission to foster unity, friendship, and fair competition, the IDBF organises multiple international world championships, sets rules and standards for dragon boat racing and equipment, and has a membership base of over 80 national federations.

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Appointment of Nigel Bedford and Li Haigang as IDBF Vice Presidents

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel Bedford as the 4th Vice President and Li Haigang as the 5th Vice President of IDBF.

Nigel Bedford – IDBF 4th Vice President

Nigel Bedford started dragon boating in Sydney, Australia over 20 years ago. In 2008, he helped found Different Strokes, Australia’s first dragon boat club aimed at the LGBTQI+ community. He moved back to UK in 2011 and, in 2015, founded Purple Warriors; a dragon boat club (and a registered charity) for military veterans living with impairments. In 2017 he was first elected onto IDBF’s Council as chair of the Para Athletes Commission. In that role he led the development of IDBF’s Rules for Paradragon Racing and has always championed the Paradragon cause. In 2024, he was appointed to IDBF’s Executive Committee. Nigel is a coach, athlete (including representing Great Britain at IDBF World Championships) and race official.

Li Haigang (李海鋼) – IDBF 5th Vice President
Li Haigang graduated from the Institute of International Relations of Peking University University and has worked in the Competitive Sports Department of the General Administration of Sport of China for nearly 20 years. He is responsible for the Chinese sports delegation that participates in major international events such as the Summer and Winter Olympics and Asian Games. Li Haigang is also a representative of the Chinese Olympic Committee for the World Games, Sino German Sports Exchange, World University Games, and World Military Games.

He is currently the Deputy Director of the Chinese Leisure Sport Administrative Centre and Head of the Management Department of the Chinese Dragon Boat Association and brings to the IDBF his in depth knowledge and rich experience in sports project management, sports competition organisation, and sports international affairs.

Please join us in welcoming Nigel Bedford and Li Haigang.

IDBF Executive Committee

Enquiries
International Dragon Boat Federation
Media enquiries: idbfnews@dragonboat.sport

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