Egypt's camel racing shifts into high gear
The Egyptian government seeks to modernize camel racing by establishing a new international racetrack and opting for robot jockeys.
Camel racing in Egypt dates back to 1992, but the country now strives to take this sport to a new level through international races and the use of robots that replace the child jockeys.
Last month, the Egyptian authorities announced the inauguration of the first camel racetrack in Egypt, hoping it would contribute to the country's ailing tourism sector.
The new track opened a month after a major camel race took place in the city of Ismailia, north of Cairo, where remote-controlled robot jockeys were used. The move aims to curb criticism on the suffering of children who often have to leave their families in order to train and compete in camel racing.
Head of the Egyptian Camel Racing Federation Eid al-Muzaini told Al-Monitor that the federation plans to stop the use of jockeys in the races within a year, except for a small number of adults in order to preserve the tradition.
