Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT209
2005-02-08 04:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

CAMEL RACING, FROM TOP DOWN TO BOTTOM UP

Tags:  PHUM SCUL PGOV ELAB MU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000209 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE/NOFORN

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),G/TIP
DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/IL (JDEMARIA),DRL/CRA (SCOOKE, DDOLAN
STATE PASS USTR (JBUNTIN, WCLATANOFF)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015
TAGS: PHUM SCUL PGOV ELAB MU
SUBJECT: CAMEL RACING, FROM TOP DOWN TO BOTTOM UP

REF: MUSCAT 00164

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (d)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000209

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE/NOFORN

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI (TROBERTS),G/TIP
DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/IL (JDEMARIA),DRL/CRA (SCOOKE, DDOLAN
STATE PASS USTR (JBUNTIN, WCLATANOFF)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015
TAGS: PHUM SCUL PGOV ELAB MU
SUBJECT: CAMEL RACING, FROM TOP DOWN TO BOTTOM UP

REF: MUSCAT 00164

Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III.
Reason: 1.4 (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU/NF) During a February 3 camel race organized by
prominent Omanis and Emiratis, the Ambassador heard directly
from the senior royal family member heading Oman's Camel
Federation on why abuses of camel jockeys that reportedly
take place in the UAE are absent in Oman. The official cited
that fact that camel racing has remained an integral part of
Bedouin society in Oman for both boys and girls, obviating
the need to import jockeys from other countries. PolOff's
first-hand observations of the races, including conversations
with young jockeys, supported the royal family member's
claims. As UAE camel owners brought their steeds but no
jockeys, this appears to have been a rare instance where
Omani riders were paid to take on those temporary duties. No
element of abuse or coercion was in any way evident. End
summary.

--------------
KENTUCKY DERBY, CAMEL-STYLE
--------------


2. (SBU/NF) On February 3, the Ambassador and PolOff
attended a regional camel race in Oman's Dakhiliyah region
that was the brainchild of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed al-Nahyan and presided over by Yahya bin Mahfoudh
al-Mantheri, president of Oman's State Council. The festive
race was held on the sprawling desert estate of host His
Highness Sayyid Asa'ad bin Tariq al-Said, a first cousin of
the Sultan and president of the Oman Equestrian and Camel
Federation. Unlike the modest Bedouin races in local
communities (reftel),the regional race at al-Bashair brought
together racing enthusiasts and elites from as far afield as
Salalah and the United Arab Emirates. In what might be
described as the "Kentucky Derby" of Omani camel racing,
invitees included government dignitaries, wealthy
expatriates, a few diplomats, and local Bedouin tribes.

--------------

SAYYID ASA'AD DENIES ABUSES IN OMAN
--------------


3. (SBU/NF) One of the few diplomats invited, the Ambassador
had the opportunity both during the races and in a subsequent
tour of the estate to discuss camel racing with Sayyid
Asa'ad. Sayyid Asa'ad said he was very familiar with the
abuses of camel jockeys in the UAE, attributing them to the
fact that the sport of camel racing had effectively died out
in the Emirates, forcing Emirati racing enthusiasts to
"import" both trainers and jockeys from other countries.
Camel racing in Oman, on the other hand, always was and has
remained a bedrock of the Bedouin culture. For that reason,
there are no foreign nationals involved in the sport in Oman.
(Note: His British business manager confided separately to
the Ambassador that he had never heard of a non-Omani jockey
in the Sultanate. End note.) Sayyid Asa'ad assured the
Ambassador that any assumption of coercion or abuse of camel
jockeys in Oman is completely unfounded and "outrageous."


4. (SBU/NF) Sayyid Asa'ad noted that he had had to explain
the differences between camel racing in the UAE and Oman to
the UK's Princess Anne during a prior visit. She had assumed
that there was no difference in UAE and Omani practices. He
explained to her how he was proud of the fact that camel
racing remains a vital part of village life throughout the
Sultanate, and that both boys and girls (typically 10-11
years old) participate equally. Nevertheless, he is
intrigued by some of the changes the UAE is undertaking,
including a study on the use of robots to replace jockeys.
Sayyid Asa'ad revealed that the Oman Equestrian and Camel
Federation had run experiments using two such robots on
camels the previous week, and that the camels did not seem to
mind their mechanical substitutes.

--------------
GROUND-LEVEL VIEW: ALL OMANIS, BUT SOME PAID
--------------


5. (SBU/NF) While the VIP's were ensconced in their
grandstand perches at the finish line, PolOff observed the
action up-close three kilometers away, where the camels,
jockeys, trainers and jeeps were lining up for the first race
at the 3 kilometer marker. The crowd was a solid mix of
Omanis and Emiratis, with many of the Emiratis bringing their
own camels and trainers, but not jockeys. A 20-something
Sudanese trainer who had raced camels in Dubai as a youngster
and now served as a trainer for a UAE camel breeder. In this
showcase where winning camels can sell for upwards of USD
262,000, only a few Omani camels took home prizes on this day
(just one first-place finish out of five heats). PolOff
observed the fierce competition among young Omani jockeys for
the offer of 20 riyals (about USD 50) to race the UAE camels
for visiting Emiratis. A finish among the top five would net
these "hired" jockeys additional prize money of USD 786.


6. (SBU/NF) While the race at Sayyid Asa'ad's estate in
al-Bashair was certainly larger and more prestigious than
those in local villages, it was nonetheless a rather
traditional event centered around the Bedouin culture of the
area. Every one of the nearly two dozen jockeys with whom
PolOff spoke were Omani and from known camel-racing villages
such as Biddiya, al-Qabil, and Sur. As in other races, both
boys and girls were present. Dressed in their best outfits,
the children were accompanied by family relatives and
appeared healthy, cheerful, and full of spunk.

--------------
HOW THE RACE IS RUN
--------------


7. (SBU/NF) About six miles off the main road in the desert
community of al-Bashair (some 180 km southwest of Muscat),
Sayyid Asa'ad's racetrack is as informal and modest as other
tracks throughout Oman. Surrounded by some bar fencing, the
15-kilometer track forms a large oval in the desert. Markers
are posted the length of the course to designate the 3 km, 4
km, 5 km, 6 km and 8 km starting points.


8. (SBU/NF) As the camels took off, the jeeps jammed with
trainers raced alongside the track, shouting support and
instructions through transistor radios tied to the jockeys.
(NOTE: An ambulance kept pace with the riders along the
interior of the track.) The heat ended as the gathering dust
cloud reached the finish line in front of the viewing
grandstand. The winning camel received a ritual feeding by
local Bedouin women, after which all of the riders, camels,
and drivers would head back out to the next marker and start
over again. Each race proceeded in identical fashion, taking
about 20 minutes to organize and run.


9. (SBU/NF) Spectators of all ages and both genders
assembled at the finish line to enjoy the entertainment. As
the crowd anxiously waited for the camels to come into sight,
spectators were treated to dancing, music, and an array of
cultural displays by the local community. The excitement
came to a climax as the fifth and last heat ended. The
boisterous crowd, held back by a swarm of Royal Oman Police,
gathered to witness the prize distribution by State Council
President Yahya al-Mantheri. The proud owners of first-place
finishers in each heat were awarded a new Toyota LandCruiser.
Swords were given to the second place finishers, and cash
prizes went to the owners whose steeds placed third, fourth,
and fifth.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


10. (SBU/NF) While we cannot attest first-hand to what may go
on with camel racing in neighboring countries, we have
neither seen nor heard of anything in Oman to suggest that
the young Omani jockeys are in any way mistreated or coerced.
Rather, the sport is deeply ingrained into the cultural
heritage of Omani families, and regulated by the most
rigorous norm imaginable - the parental bond. While
initially concerned about the Emirati participation in this
race, we were happy to find that UAE-based jockeys did not
take part. The fact that some Omani kids who normally race
for free were given payment by Emirati owners to jockey their
camels does not, in our view, constitute child labor.
BALTIMORE