In a historic step aimed at elevating the sport of our forefathers to the ranks of major international sports, the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the fifth General Assembly meeting of the World Camel Racing Federation (WCS), chaired by His Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, President of the World Camel Racing Federation, and attended by His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Authority for Sports, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.
The meeting, which was held on Saturday, witnessed a broad international presence represented by more than 85 members of the Board of Directors and heads of national federations from different continents of the world, where the financial and organizational reports were approved, and an ambitious strategy extending for the next ten years was adopted.
Cultural dimensions and a renewed historical context
These meetings come at a time when camel racing is undergoing a radical transformation from a traditional folk sport in the Arab region to an organized sport governed by international laws and professional standards. These steps are of paramount importance in preserving Arab cultural identity while presenting it to the world in a modern format. Since its inception, the International Federation has strived to unify efforts to ensure the sustainability of this sport and expand its practice beyond its traditional geographical boundaries.
Praise for Bahrain's role and Saudi support
At the outset of the meeting, His Highness Prince Fahd bin Jalawi extended his congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the people of Bahrain on the occasion of National Day, praising the Kingdom's sporting progress. He also expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for his generous hospitality and unwavering support in ensuring the success of the General Assembly.
His Highness appreciated the great support that camel racing receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, stressing that this empowerment is the basic pillar for governing the sport and transforming it into a global economic industry.
Global 2036 Roadmap
The adoption by the General Assembly of the (2026–2036) strategy was the most prominent event, as it laid out a precise roadmap for taking the sport to international horizons through three pivotal stages:
- Standardization phase: aims to unify the technical systems and regulations for competitions globally.
- The expansion phase focuses on strengthening the infrastructure of the squares and intensive media outreach.
- Coordination phase: Its goal is to gain full international recognition and build a broad fan base around the world.
International expansion and record numbers
The annual report revealed a significant increase in the number of member countries, reaching 85 in 2024, a threefold increase from 2018. This reflects the success of the sport's soft power in attracting the attention of diverse cultures. The association also discussed the potential accession of new members such as Qatar, India, and Nigeria.
The association has set ambitious digital targets for the future, including reaching 50,000 affiliated camel herders, activating 250 clubs, training 5,000 camel herders in specialized academies, in addition to enhancing the research aspect by issuing 50 scientific publications.
The competition to host the event and the future of sports
The attendees reviewed the bids submitted by the countries vying to host the 2026 General Assembly: Angola, Libya, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tajikistan. This underscores the international interest in hosting the events of this federation. The meeting concluded with His Highness, the President of the Federation, emphasizing the importance of concerted efforts to ensure fair competition and the sustainability of this cherished heritage.
