Al-Mudhaibi, October 20 (ONA) - The activities of the annual festival of camel races for the eighteenth season 2020/2021, organized by the Royal Camel Corps at the Royal Court Affairs (RCA), will start tomorrow. The first station will be on Al Abiad Racecourse in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, North Sharqiya Governorate.

The race, which will be held over two days, includes 45 races for different groups, as on the first day there will be 30 rounds in morning and evening sessions. In the morning period 19 races were allocated to “Al Hajaij” category, including 13 for “Al-Bikar” and 6 for “Al-Ji’dan” for a distance of 3 km.

There will also be two races dedicated to “Al Ardha” category for “Al Thanaya” and “Al Houl” for a distance of one and a half kilometres, while the evening period has been allocated for the remnants category and includes 11 races, including 8 for “Al Bikar” and 3 for “Al-Jid’an” for a distance of 4 kilometres.

On the second day, the race will take place in the morning period and it includes 15 races, 6 of which are for “Al Jida” category, 4 for “Al Bikar” and 2 for “Al Ji’dan” for a distance of 4 km and 3 races are dedicated to “Al Thanaya” category, two for “Al Bikar” and one for “Al Ji’dan” for a distance of 5 km. There will be 3 races in “Al Houl” category, and one race in “Al Zamoul” category for 5 km.

The Royal Camel Corps had announced the precautionary measures during the race, namely adherence to the instructions of the Supreme Committee in charge of examining the mechanism for dealing with developments resulting from the spread of the Coronavirus to limit the spread of the disease, prevention of the attendance of the public and children to watch the race, and the obligation to wear a mask and maintain a physical distance of at least two meters, and to prevent participants from gathering at the preparation points, the finish line, or anywhere in the field, and only one person with each camel during the preparation. The number of people in one car must not exceed three people while watching the race. The Royal Camel Corps also confirmed that the relevant authorities will take all legal measures against the violators, and that they will stop the race in the event that the participants do not adhere to the precautionary measures.

Among the most prominent conditions for participating in the race is that participation is limited to the authentic Omani camel wholly owned by Omani citizens, and it is strictly forbidden to stimulate camels with blood or use stimulant substances, electric shocks and other stimuli. Steroids and stimuli will be examined in all rounds, and in the event that doping is detected, the prize will be withheld.

(ONA)