Dubai: The picturesque city of Aix-les-Bains is set to host a historic event as France hosts the first international camel race at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, although the event will not be connected to the Summer Games.
The groundbreaking event will be held on August 4, featuring riders from Dubai's Arabian Desert Camel Riding Centre, and will feature two 300m races.
The project aims to expand the appeal of camel sports in Europe, introducing new audiences to the excitement and cultural significance of this traditional sport. The competitions, held in conjunction with the Olympic Games in France, help increase the diversity of disciplines and athletes in the country.
“Although we have been organizing the camel race in France for many years, we are very excited to finally have riders from Dubai competing, which will make the event even more interesting on a global level,” said Olivier Philippaneau, event organiser.
“This event marks a new chapter in the global camel racing scene and we are honored to have top international teams such as the ADCRC from Dubai take part. Their participation underscores the growing interest and commitment to camel sports around the world.”
Coralie Viroulaud, a French expatriate who discovered her passion for camel racing in Dubai, expressed her excitement at the sport being recognised in her homeland, while Isabella Leslie, another competitor from Dubai, said she was thrilled to be competing in France and to see the sport grow in popularity, boosted by her new sponsorship of American businessman and racehorse owner Mike Repole.
Jennifer Reggio was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates and says she is looking forward to sharing her love and passion for camel racing with an international audience in France.
The competition will not only feature the Dubai Camel Racing Champion, but also Prince Fahad bin Jalawi from the International Camel Racing Federation.
