The Libyan duo, Mohamed Ali and Omar Al-Faqi, are representing their country in the camel racing competitions at the Islamic Solidarity Games, which are being hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The races are scheduled to take place the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, and will resume again next Friday.
The camel racing events at this edition of the Games are witnessing broad participation, with countries including Libya, Algeria, Bahrain, the UAE, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Benin, Chad, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Kuwait, Tunisia, Mali, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Somalia competing. This wide presence highlights the significance of the sport and its growing international appeal.
Camel racing is regarded as one of the most prominent authentic Arab heritage sports, practised by Arabs since the pre-Islamic era and carried through the ages, remaining a symbol of identity and heritage. This sport is described as the “ancient modern sport” due to the excitement, enthusiasm, and fair competition it embodies.