The World Dragon Boat Racing Championships – scheduled for August next year – have been moved to Pattaya from Hong Kong, due to the territory's Covid rules.

Members of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) on Saturday voted to give the host status of the championships to Thailand.

"The IDBF would like to wholeheartedly thank the [Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association] and the Hong Kong Organising Committee for their hard work, dedication, and commitment in the preparation of the Championships. We look forward to returning to Hong Kong in the future," the group said in a statement.

The Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, for its part, expressed regret over the decision, which it noted came as the SAR has stricter Covid restrictions for inbound travellers than other countries.

It added it would continue to work to secure hosting rights for other international competitions.