DUBAI: The picturesque town of Aix-les-Bains is all set to host a historic event when France hosts its first camel race with international participation during the 2024 Paris Olympics, even though the event is not linked to the Summer Games.
This groundbreaking event will take place on August 4 and will feature two 300-metre races with jockeys from the Arabian Desert Camel Riding Centre in Dubai.
The aim of this initiative is to increase the attractiveness of camel racing in Europe and to introduce new audiences to the excitement and cultural significance of this traditional sport. The race will take place at the same time as the Olympic Games in France, thus increasing the diversity of disciplines and athletes in the country.
“Although we have been organizing camel racing in France for several years, we are incredibly excited to finally be competing against jockeys from Dubai. This makes the event much more interesting from a global perspective,” said Olivier Philippaneau, the event's organizer.
“This event marks a new chapter in global camel racing and we are honoured to have top international teams such as ADCRC from Dubai taking part. Their commitment underlines the growing interest and commitment to camel racing worldwide.”
French expatriate Coralie Viroulaud, who discovered her passion for camel racing in Dubai, was excited to see the sport gaining recognition in her home country, while Isabella Leslie, another competitor from Dubai, said she was thrilled to compete in France and experience the sport's growing audience, which is also helped by her new sponsorship with American businessman and racehorse owner Mike Repole.
Born and raised in the United Arab Emirates, Jennifer Reggio also said she was looking forward to sharing her love and passion for camel racing with an international audience in France.
Not only will the best camel racers from Dubai take part in the races, but Prince Fahd bin Jalawi from the International Camel Racing Federation will also be present.
