Name: Mohammad Juma
Alshamsi
Section: CJM
Instructor: Hedley Butterfield
LSS 3003 - Sports, Leisure, and Society
ADMC
Abstract
The paper is concentrated on the
details and main issues of the traditional for the United Arab Emirates sport -
the camel racing. The research is based on the interview.
History of camel racing
Questions used for the research
were addressed to Eid - the thirty-nine-year-old citizen of the United Arab
Emirates, who has a knowledge of the subject discussed in the paper. The
questionnaire was divided into parts.
Introduction
Camel racing is considered to be
the most common sport in the UAE. Moreover, it is can be called the most
traditional sports activity in the country and it is still popular nowadays.
During the race all people are equal and everyone from a ruler of Emirates to a
usual person shares their love for the animals. The rulers have supported the
sport’s heritage, including breeding camels, buying harnessing and equipment
for jockeys
According to Eid, the reason why
camels were chosen instead of horses stems from the fact that horses are more
expensive in terms of their maintenance. For example, they consume eight times
more water than camels do. For that reason camels are considered to be a
national animal and camel races are for meant for every citizen of UAE with no
regard to their social status. Moreover, they have more patience and stamina
for the longer sprees.
Types of Camels
The second part of the interview
was devoted to the technical details of the sport, such as camel types,
categorizing, and equipment.
The camel racing is mainly limited to running
the dromedary kind of animals. Camels are divided and named in accordance with
their age. For instance, animals from three to four years are named “lagyah”,
from four to five - “jathah” and the oldest from five to six years have a name
“thanaiah”. The age also influences the race distance which the camel can run.
Animals are controlled with
different types of equipment: a picket line, hobbles along with a camel halter.
Most of the equipment details are made of special ropes. This gear was used by
jockeys in order to create a more powerful and precise performance.
In the past jockeys were obliged to
ride the camel during the race. They might have been thrown out of the saddle
unexpectedly and deadly wounded by other camels participating in the race.
However, modern camel races do not
use human jockeys because it is considered dangerous and, therefore, inhuman.
Nowadays, the technology called “automated passenger” is used. Using the modern
technologies, it creates a subtle feeling for a camel that someone is riding
it, even though in fact there is no human being involved in the process except
for the person who controls it from the distance with the remote.
Conclusion
To conclude, the interview has
brought all the necessary information on the subject of camel racing sport in
the United Arab Emirates. Eid has covered all the key aspects. It can be said
that nowadays the sport is still symbolic for the nation and at the same time
is not so dangerous as it was decades ago when jockeys were harmed or killed in
the process. Moreover, camel racing contains a spirit of unity because it
gathers people from different classes for the same purpose: to see how camels
run long distances and win or lose. The history of camel racing is not finished
yet and this sport continues to grow and develop every year with the new
breeding technologies and control opportunities.
http://c.top4top.net/m_128cllk1.mp3
http://c.top4top.net/m_128cllk1.mp3
