Doha: The Arab Camel Racing Federation (ACRF), headed by Abdullah Al Kuwari, announced its full support for the candidacy of Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in the elections scheduled to be held early next year.
In an official statement, the federation affirmed that this support stems from "a firm conviction that the next phase of Asian sports requires leadership with experience, vision, and international standing, fully aware of the diversity of the continent and the unique characteristics of its people, and a balance between development and sporting and cultural identity."
The statement stressed that the federation, which includes a wide Arab membership spanning from the Gulf to the Atlantic, views Sheikh Joaan's candidacy as a real opportunity to redefine the relationship between sports and identity in Asia, in line with the aspirations, history, and conscience of the people.
It noted that H E Sheikh Joaan "has a strong presence in the sporting scene, supporting major events and sports deeply rooted in the popular conscience, such as camel racing, which represents a profound cultural and heritage dimension."
ACRF emphasized that supporting this candidacy represents not only a Qatari position, but also "a sincere Arab ambition that believes that sports are the voice and memory of the people, not just medals and races."
The Arab Federation for Camel Racing is a unifying platform for camel racing across the Arab world. It seeks to preserve the cultural heritage associated with camel racing, while supporting its organizational and field development at the regional and international levels.
