Camel Racing in UAE

Camel Racing in UAE

Camel racing is a traditional Arab sports ancient and present, in UAE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to supported all the heritage sports such as camel racing, marine racing, and horse racing. He harnesses the necessary capabilities to take these sports its proper place. In the zone of camel racing, Sheikh Zayed keens to start support the camel extreme importance in the citizens lives. In the past, camels as the most important method of transportation, as well camels were and still the source of food (milk and meat).

Camels still important to UAE citizens, but at the present time with the to technological development camels are no more used to conveyance. However some residents of rural areas and the countryside (Bedouins) still care about camels. Bedouins still raise camels up to these days, as they have been supported from the Sheiks to revive this ancient heritage.

I interviewed my grandfather Salem Al Hajri and took some valuable information about camel racing between the past and now.

§   How long have you raised up camels?

From about 37 years

§   How were the camels breeding in the past?

It was not only breeding, camels were the only way of transportation as well the main source of milk and meat.

§  Since when camel racing started in UAE?

I don’t remember the year exactly but it was long time ago, even before the union.

§  Since when camel racing got a support from the UAE Sheiks?

Exactly 1993, Camel Racing association established in 1993 as the president of the association is Sheikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan.

§  How does camel racing exhibitions changed in UAE?

In the past, camels racing were just in some specific places in UAE like Suwaihan, Al Wathba, Al Marmoom, Nad Al Sheba and some other places. The possibilities of camel’s owners were limited and not every one can train his camels correctly to get to the race.

§  What were the prizes before?

As well the prize before were just 30,000Dhs for the first rank, 20,000Dhs for the second and 10,000Dhs for the third rank.

§  What about the prizes in present?

Now days in Sheikh Zayed Grand Prix yearly Camel Festival in Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, the festival still for 5 days. With the participation of 10 thousand camels owners compete over 155 rounds and with a total prize of up to 30 million dirhams. The first three ranks get the prize in cash in addition to a car (The car type depends on the rank) while the others (up to rank 20) get only money and also depend on the rank.

§  Is Sheikh Zayed Grand prix the only event in the UAE?

No, there are a lot of different events allover the UAE with different prizes and different times.

§  Referring to Camel racing association (CRA), what are their achievements since they established?

There are 20 main camel racetracks; in addition there are also secondary tracks that are used for practice runs.  These tracks are scattered allover the UAE. As well children are not allowed to ride camels in the race because there are a lot of injures in the past years. Plus CRA started to put electronic chip to define the camel and its owner.

Robot

§  Instead of the children, who is riding the camel now in the race?

Since 2002 they started to use robot jockeys

§  How long is the track?

The main range is from 4k to 10k and some of them 12k.

§  From your side, what do you think about CRA?

CRA changed a lot of thinks, they started to take care more about camels and camel’s owners.

§  What is the procedure to participate in the race?

First of all the camel goes to a committee of inquiry to see what is the status of the camel if it fits to the standers. The main standers consider the camel’s health and if there is no manipulations with the medicines before it enters the race.

§  Would you recommend any one to enter Camel-racing competitions?

Who wants to enter camel racing failed must be familiar with camels and bred and take care of them. Although it is an opportunity for the young generations to learn about the traditions because camel breeding not only about the race, its an area where the youth can learn more about the heritage.

In conclusion there are a lot if changes in camel racing field, in my view these changes are helpful for the camels owners. In the past there was no Camel racing association while since 1992 this association manages and  arranges races, as well it assigns laws commensurate with the owners of the camel and the animal rights association.

IOC MOOC - Gold trophy

Mohamed Obaid - Gold Trophy

Armed Forces Club Reflection

Reflection

 

LSS 3003 - sports, leisure and society

Mohamed Obaid -  H00209588

 

Part 1:

            In this case study, I worked in a group consisting of three students, two classmates and me. We worked in a group because this is the college requirement and to learn how to communicate, work and help each other to get the work done in a proper way. We have chosen Armed Forces Officers Club in our study because it is one of the best places in Abu Dhabi that gathers a lot of facilities such as a five stars hotel, gymnasium, swimming pools, bowling, indoor football playground, tennis, shooting club and some other facilities.

            Gathering information is not that easy as we thought at the beginning; we prepared the questions that we needed to know more about the facilities; as well we divided the work and we prepared the photography equipment. Filming at the club requires prior permission from the administration. We faced difficulty initially in obtaining the permission but we went to the manager to get it.

 

Part 2:

            We interviewed a couple of the club staff and we gathered some general information about the club history; as well we collected some information about the gymnasium and the classes of the cross fit that they offer for the club members. Also they told us about the yearly and seasonal events and competitions that they arrange for the members and non-members as well.

            In my opinion the results were as I expected; also I learnt some information that I did not know before about the club. There are some new things for me such as the cross fit classes, yearly events and some other things.

            The information that we gained relates to LSS 3003 course because this course is about sports, leisure and society and the officers club collects the sport facilities, leisure facilities for the club members. The members can find all these under one roof, that is the Armed Forces Officers Club.

 

Part 3:

            In my point of view our video had a problem with the sound; the sound was not very clear in some parts of the film because in some places there was an echo that affected the sound quality. We tried to find a solution to this fault by using some editing software but we could not fix the problem. The software that we tried was not helpful because most of them were just trial software and not high qualified, so we could not hit the issue. In the early beginning, when we prepare the videoing equipment, we must get a microphone but we don’t have any experience in filming videos so we thought that the camera interior microphone is enough.

            I think that the results are good for the Higher Colleges of Technology; the HCT can hold an agreement with the Armed Forces Officers Club to give the students special offers for the club membership as well the club have a big auditorium that it will offer the college to make the graduation ceremony for the students there. 

            If I were to do the case study again, the first thing that I would do is to get a portable microphone, because as I mentioned before the main issue in our video was the sound. From other sides of the case study, I think that everything was good, the questions are acceptable, and the filming was upright. Finally I would like to film other case studies in future because I learned from my mistakes  and I had a slight understanding of what to do and how to do it.

Falconry PPT

Falconry 

Armed Force Club

Ronaldo Luís de Lima

      Ronaldo

     Ronaldo Luís de Lima, a retired Brazilian footballer. He played for Corinthians football club when he was just a local player not international. His style has been described as the greatest pure striker in the history of the modern game. In 1997 and 2002 he won the ballon d’or and also he was one of three players who got the FIFA player of the year award three times. Ronaldo played 98 international matches and scored 15 goals to be the highest goal scorer in the history after surpassing the famous German player Gerd Müller. He retired on the 14^th of February 2011 at age of 35 years old with a great history.