Dragonboat Festival in Hamburg

Nearly 100 teams are set to take part in the Dragonboat Festival held at Allermohe, Hamburg's rowing course.

Around 1,500 competitors from companies and club teams across Germany are expected to join the festival.

Each dragon boat team is made up of 20 paddlers, a cox and a drummer. At least six of the paddlers must be women.

Along with the races, there are other attractions going on through the dragon boat festival, including shows, video screenings and children's entertainment.

Dragon boating originated in China and is a form of rowing boat racing. Boats taking part in this type of competition must be decorated with Chinese dragon heads and tails and must carry a large drum.

The drum is the "heartbeat" of the boat - indicating the rhythm and the pace of oar strokes through its beat.

Dragon boat paddlers sit facing forwards and their oar strokes have a special technique.