Madinat Zayed in the UAE will be venue for the traditional camel race, one of the most popular leisure time for the Emiratis, who are keen on preserving their folkloric heritage.
The Emirati official news agency (WAM) said that the two-day event will kick off the camel racing season in the country, organized by the Emirates Heritage Club.
Last Thursday, the UAE ninth heritage camel race concluded at the Suweihan camel racecourse. The two-day sports event is part of a program initiated under directions of President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve sports associated with the country's heritage, said the agency.
According to emirates.org, the traditional sport is extremely popular in the Emirates. It was originally staged in an informal setting, at weddings or special festivals, but now customized tracks have been built throughout the country where race meetings are held in the winter months from October to April, culminating in the annual camel race festival at Al Wathba which attracts entrants from all over the world.
Sheikh Zayed's sponsorship of the Zayed Grand Prize camel races, also held at Al Wathba racetrack to celebrate UAE National Day, is an indication of the special focus and encouragement given to the revival of heritage sports and camel-racing festivals as an occasion for the gathering of UAE citizens.
The Camel-Racing Federation is responsible for guiding and controlling camel-racing events in the Emirates and promoting events abroad.
In 1999, the Sheikh Zayed's President's Cup was held in Sydney, Australia for the second consecutive year – Albawaba.com
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