Sounding Circle: Robots race camels in Kuwait

 Robots race camels in Kuwait9 comments
7 Feb 2006 @ 00:18, by Raymond Powers

Robots race camels in Kuwait

Monday, February 6, 2006 Posted: 0346 GMT (1146 HKT)

A robotic jockey crosses the finish line Sunday at the Kuwait camel race championship.

KUWAIT (Reuters) -- Kuwait on Sunday held the first regional camel race using robots as riders after child jockeys were banned from the lucrative sport following criticism by human rights groups.

Teams from the six Gulf Arab states participated in the race held on the dusty tracks of a racing club outside the capital Kuwait City.

"We hope this sport, which is part of our cultural heritage, will be spared from suspicion," said Kuwait's Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah who opened the five-day championship.

The remote-operated robots are shaped like small boys.

Rights groups said thousands of boys, some as young as four, worked as jockeys in the wealthy Gulf Arab region where camel racing is a lucrative and popular sport. Last year, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates banned child jockeys.

Kuwait held an experimental race with robot jockeys last October, along with similar trials by other Gulf states.

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9 comments

11 Nov 2006 @ 00:47 by Joe @75.23.132.140 : Nice.
Too lazy even to ride their camels.  

18 Feb 2007 @ 06:42 by tricia cairns @143.81.252.12 : camel racing in kuwait
I would appreciate if you could please advise what dates camel racing starts in Kuwait. I heard yesterday 17th February, on the radio that teams from six Arab Countries have come to Kuwait to race their camels but this website indicates that this race meet was back on the 6th February. Could you please advise. I look forward to your response.
Regards
Tricia Cairns  

4 Mar 2007 @ 09:47 by Ray Romero @62.215.149.30 : Camel race schedule 2007
My wife is visiting from the USA. She would Love to see a camel race. Is there any racing before the 14th of March 2007? Please do write and advise of this please. Thank you.  

26 Apr 2007 @ 08:55 by That it is the fact @168.187.73.152 : They are not lazy
Kuwait held its first camel race using robots as jockeys on Thursday after children were banned from the sport in response to criticism by rights groups and the United States
Twenty-five Swiss-made robots rode camels on a 10-km (six-mile) trial run on the dusty tracks of the Kuwait Camel Racing Club, 50 km (30 miles) southwest of the capital.
The humanoid riders, specially developed for the purpose, are the size and shape of small boys and are operated by remote control.

The experiment was highly successful. This will prevent the use of children in future races
MP Waleed Al Tabtabaie, chairman of parliament’s Human Rights Committee, praised the introduction of robots.

“This will prevent the use of child jockeys and distance Gulf countries from allegations of human rights violations and child trafficking,” he said.

“It will not be said that there are children from poor countries like Pakistan and India who being are used as child jockeys. We are civilised countries and respect children.”

Penalities for violating the ban include the dissolution of the Camel Racing Club’s board, halting state subsidies and depriving the club of land for the sport.

Watching the trial run were US diplomats and camel owners and traders.  

9 Sep 2007 @ 12:51 by Julie Childress @143.81.252.14 : Camel race schedule
What is the 2007 camel race schedule? I am living here for 6 months and would love to see a camel race. Thank you for any information you can give.  

14 Oct 2007 @ 01:27 by lppvbhvt @81.169.155.246 : lppvbhvt
qncgmbez kptwspcp [link] hknnilfk ctftypik [URL=http://bepgqohb.com]qyyxzgyv[/URL]  

7 Nov 2008 @ 16:12 by johan forsberg @62.150.105.150 : camel racing
Today Nov. 7, 2008 I went to the race track for a look. When is there a race scheduled for Nov. or Dec. this year.  

16 Nov 2008 @ 20:57 by ayed @212.43.10.1 : Kuwait camel
every saturdaday afternoon 1:30  

16 Nov 2008 @ 21:13 by Ayed Alajmi @212.43.10.1 : Kuwait camel racing club
The 2008 Kuwait camel racing schedule is every Sturday afternoon 1:30 from October to end of April. The 15,16,17,18 and 19th Feb is the Kuwait camel festival.
All are welcome, there is no addmision fee or any kind of charges. you might get lucky and get a free camel ride. The track is about 20km west of sixth ring road, 604 road, kabd area, sigens of the club.  

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