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Egypt's camel racers hope to spur tourism

Ismailia's annual camel race kicked off with much international fanfare and hopes for a boost in Egypt's tourism sector.
Jockeys, most of whom are children, compete on their mounts at the starting line during the opening of the International Camel Racing festival at the Sarabium desert in Ismailia, Egypt, March 21, 2017. Picture taken March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RTX324AE

Not long after sunrise, a camel race kicked off in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, 115 kilometers (71 miles) east of Cairo. About 150 camels pressed their noses against a metal barrier before receiving a signal from a man wearing a white galabiya, or traditional robe, to move forward.

The camels, urged on by young jockeys, sprinted toward their first turn on a desert racetrack as the huge audience, filled with enthusiasts from across the globe and representatives from Arab tribes, watched on.

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