The eighth Sharqia Race for Arabian Camels will be held in Egypt on March 30 and 31 in the Belbeis Desert, north of Cairo, organisers have said. Most of Egypt's tribes, from Ismailia, Suez, Red Sea, Aswan, Qena, Sohag, New Valley, North Sinai and South Sinai governorates will participate in the evet. The relationship between the camel and the tribe was established thousands of years ago in Egypt, home to numerous camel breeds, while camel races have become, over the centuries, part and parcel of Arab culture. In certain Arab countries, the desire to test the maximum speed of camels has generated the introduction of technology into the race, with lightweight robots used instead of human riders. "This will be the first time robots are officially used in a camel race," Mohamed el-Saifi, the secretary-general of the race, told The Egyptian Gazette on the telephone. "Children normally ride the camels in the races, as they are light. But UNICEF told us not to use children, as this activity is very risky for them. This applies to all the Arab associations.” The races will be race between 5km and 10km long, depending on the animals' ages; camels aged six years or more will race the full 10km. The races will be run according to international rules. There will be a 'technical race committee' to establish the age of the participating camels, as well as an 'arbitration committee' of three referees and two riding camels. The competing Egyptian and Arab tribes will all receive comprehensive healthcare, while their camels will receive veterinary care. El-Saifi said that Arab delegates were coming to watch but not compete in the event. "There'll be Arab delegates from Syria, Jordan and Libya," he added, stressing the social, sporting and touristic importance of the event. "This is an exciting sport. It allows tribes inside and outside Egypt to make contact with each other. Camel races also attract a lot of tourists."
