第29届联合国气候变化大会（COP29）在阿塞拜疆巴库举办期间，由世界运河历史文化城市合作组织（WCCO）、大运河传媒参与策划的2024全球运河赛艇穿越行动在阿塞拜疆里海沿岸迎来收官之战。从2021年，WCCO名誉副主席、万科集团创始人王石受WCCO委托，代表WCCO参加于英国格拉斯哥举行的COP26。同时，王石旗下的运河深潜中心与WCCO及大运河传媒共同策划“全球运河赛艇穿越行动”，每年开展活动并在联合国气候变化大会举办地收官。
四年时间里，“全球运河赛艇穿越行动”已经成为具有推动全球环境保护和可持续发展影响力的活动，从今年起成为每年COP休会日的固定节目。行动相继得到世界运河历史文化城市合作组织（WCCO）、世界赛艇联合会（World Rowing）、世界自然基金会（WWF）、内河航道国际组织（IWI）等多个国际组织的鼎力支持。世界赛艇联合会官网对2024全球运河赛艇穿越行动的巴库收官仪式进行了宣传报道。大运河传媒现全文转发，以飨读者。
The annual Global Canal Rowing Action (GCRA) concluded its 2024 edition last weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).
Spanning six continents and bringing together 41 countries and 199 cities, this year’s GCRA reached a remarkable 12,000 participants, promoting canal culture and advocating for low-carbon environmental protection as part of the global movement for sustainable development.
According to Ken Lee, co-initiator of the Global Canal Rowing Action, this year’s event built on its success in previous editions.
“The 2024 GCRA has evolved into a true global movement, connecting people from Yangzhou to Asia, Africa, Europe, and America before culminating in Baku. With over 12,000 participants, we’ve continued to spread the message of ‘Zero Carbon, Clean Water’ to communities worldwide,” he said.
The Baku finale, held as part of the COP29 “Break Day” activities, featured a Sustainability Parade with 55 boats, including rowing and paddling teams led by local and international athletes. World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland, International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko, and International Dragon Boat Federation President Claudio Schermi joined the parade, reinforcing their shared commitment to combating climate change.
Cultural and Community Highlights
The Baku edition was more than just a sports event. Participants, ranging in age from 9 to 75 years, celebrated the local culture with traditional Azerbaijani music, dance performances, and a showcase of local delicacies. The event also saw widespread community involvement, including youth and families, supported by government campaigns and extensive media coverage from 10 Azerbaijani TV channels.
On the next day, COP29 hosted a “Canal Day” event in its official program. This session, themed “Canal Global Canal Rowing Action – Green Future with Youth” highlighted canals as critical resources in the fight against climate change. Speaking at the Biosphere III Pavilion, Jean-Christophe Rolland emphasized the value of initiatives like the GCRA:
“This operation combines people and nature, sports and culture, while raising awareness of protecting water resources. Awareness is the first step, but we must go further by engaging more people in addressing the challenges of climate change.”
A Lasting Legacy
Looking to the future, Azerbaijan has pledged to make the GCRA an annual water climate event, expanding its reach to neighboring European countries. Ken Lee echoed this commitment:
“Through rowing and paddling, we hope to inspire more people to take action for a sustainable future. As we head toward COP30 in Belem, Brazil, we look forward to welcoming South American and Amazonian athletes to this global movement.”
The 2024 GCRA in Baku stands as a symbol of the transformative power of sports in fostering collaboration, cultural exchange, and environmental action.
Attendees included representatives from the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO), the Azerbaijan Youth and Sports Ministry, the Azerbaijan Canoe and Rowing Federation, international leaders from COP29 and Wang Shi, Founder of GCRA and Honorary President of the Asian Rowing Federation.
一年一度的全球运河赛艇穿越行动（GCRA）在第29届联合国气候变化大会（COP29）期间，在阿塞拜疆巴库完成了2024年的收官之战。
今年的全球运河赛艇穿越行动跨越六大洲，汇集了41个国家和199个城市，吸引了1.2万名参与者，弘扬运河文化，倡导低碳生态环境保护，将其作为全球可持续发展运动的一部分。
据全球运河赛艇穿越行动共同发起人李基铉（Ken Lee）介绍，今年的活动是在前几届成功举办的基础上进行的。
“2024年的全球运河赛艇穿越行动已经发展成为一个真正的全球运动，连接了从扬州到亚洲、非洲、欧洲和美洲的人们，最终在巴库达到高潮。有超过12，000名参与者，我们继续向全球社区传播“零排放，水保护”的信息。”他说。
在巴库的活动中，作为COP29“休息日”活动的一部分，全球运河赛艇穿越行动举办了一场可持续性游行，共有55艘船，包括由当地和国际运动员带领的赛艇和划艇队。世界赛艇联合会主席 Jean-Christophe Rolland，国际皮划艇联合会主席 Thomas Konietzko，国际龙舟联合会主席Claudio Schermi等加入了游行，加强了他们对应对气候变化的共同承诺。
文化和社区亮点
巴库活动不仅仅是一场体育赛事。参与者年龄从9岁到75岁不等，他们通过传统的阿塞拜疆音乐、舞蹈表演和当地美食展示来庆祝当地文化。这次活动还得到了包括青年和家庭在内的社区的广泛参与，得到了政府运动和阿塞拜疆10个电视频道广泛媒体报道的支持。
第二天，COP29在其官方日程中举办了“运河日”活动。这次会议的主题是“GCRA—青少年绿色未来”，强调运河是应对气候变化的关键资源。世界赛艇联合会主席 Jean-Christophe Rolland在生物圈3号馆发言时强调了GCRA等倡议的价值:
“这次行动结合了人与自然、体育与文化，同时提高了人们保护水资源的意识。意识是第一步，但我们必须更进一步，让更多人参与应对气候变化的挑战。”
持久的遗产
展望未来，阿塞拜疆承诺使全球运河赛艇穿越行动成为年度事件，将其影响力扩大到邻近欧洲国家。李基铉对这一承诺表示赞同：
“通过赛艇和划船，我们希望激励更多的人采取行动，实现可持续的未来。在巴西贝伦举行的COP30会议上，我们期待着欢迎南美和亚马逊地区的运动员加入这一全球运动。”
在巴库举行的2024全球运河赛艇穿越行动象征着体育在促进合作、文化交流和环境行动方面的变革力量。
与会者包括世界运河历史文化城市合作组织（WCCO）、阿塞拜疆青年和体育部、阿塞拜疆皮划艇和赛艇联合会的代表、COP29的国际领导人以及GCRA创始人兼亚洲赛艇联合会名誉主席王石。
来源：全球运河穿越行动
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制作 曹宇
编校 延晨 徐蓉
一审 桂艳 张莉
二审 肖东
三审 晖军
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