Dubai: The beautiful city of Aix-les-Bains is set to host a historic event when France hosts its first camel race with international participants at the 2024 Paris Olympics. But the event will not be part of the Summer Olympics.
The landmark event, held on August 4, will feature riders from Dubai's Arabian Desert Camel Riding Centre and will feature two 300m races.
The initiative aims to expand the appeal of camel sports in Europe and introduce the excitement and cultural significance of this traditional sport to new audiences. The races will be held concurrently with the Olympic Games in France, allowing for a wider range of sports and athletes to be represented in the country.
“We have been hosting camel races in France for many years, but we are very excited to finally have riders from Dubai competing. It makes the event much more interesting from a global perspective,” said event organiser Olivier Filipano.
“This event represents a new chapter in global camel racing competitions and we are honoured to have such a top international team as ADCRC from Dubai take part. Their participation demonstrates the growing interest and commitment to camel sports worldwide.”
Frenchman Coralie Birulod, who discovered her passion for camel racing in Dubai, expressed her delight at seeing the sport being recognised in her home country, while another Dubai resident competitor, Isabella Leslie, said she was delighted to be competing in France and see the sport’s audience growing with the new sponsorship deal with American businessman and horse racing owner Mike Lepole.
Jennifer Leggio, who was born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, said she was looking forward to sharing her love and passion for camel racing with an international audience in France.
The race will be attended by Dubai's champion camel racers as well as Prince Fahd bin Jalawi, President of the International Camel Racing Federation.
