Saudi Games 2024 Celebrates 'Year of the Camel'

The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. SPA
The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. SPA
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Saudi Games 2024 Celebrates 'Year of the Camel'

The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. SPA
The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. SPA

The organizing committee of the Saudi Games 2024 has announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Culture's "The Year of the Camel" initiative, aiming to promote its goals and message.

The torch, medals, and victory bouquet of the third edition of the Saudi Games will embody the visual identity of The Year of the Camel initiative. The initiative seeks to introduce the camel as a significant cultural, historical, and civilizational symbol in the Kingdom and to strengthen the deep-rooted relationship between generations of society.

The collaboration is part of joint efforts between various sectors to enhance the cultural presence in events hosted by the Kingdom and to solidify the deep-rooted relationship between Saudi society and the camel from generation to generation.

This year is marked as "The Year of the Camel" to celebrate the unique cultural value represented by the camel.

The initiative aims to achieve several goals, including preserving the national identity, introducing future generations and the world to the camel, highlighting its economic importance and role in achieving food security, as well as introducing the civilizational value of the camel and the customs associated with it, its rich cultural and historical heritage, and showcasing its unique capabilities that have earned it a distinguished place in Saudi culture.



New Zealand Reclaims Record for Largest Haka Dance

People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
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New Zealand Reclaims Record for Largest Haka Dance

People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)
People take part in a world record attempt for the largest mass Haka at Eden Park in Auckland on September 29, 2024. (AFP)

New Zealand has set the world record for the most people to perform a haka, a traditional dance of the country's indigenous Maori, reclaiming the title from France.

A statement by Auckland’s Eden Park, which hosted the record attempt on Sunday, said 6,531 people had performed Ka Mate, the haka, which surpassed the current record of 4,028 people, held by France since 2014.

"Haka is an important part of our culture and returning the mana (prestige) of this world record away from the French and back to the land of its origins and ensuring it was performed correctly and with integrity was vital,” Hinewehi Mohi, cultural ambassador for HAKA and co-founder of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, told New Zealand’s 1News.

The haka, a customary dance by Maori, was traditionally a way to welcome visiting tribes or to invigorate warriors ahead of battle. It is now performed at important events and is the most well-known as part of the New Zealand rugby teams pre-game ritual.

There are many haka but the one performed at the world record attempt is the most well-known and was composed around 1920 by Te Rauparaha, chief of Ngati Toa iwi or tribe.

Event organizers had hoped at least 10,000 participants would attend the event, which was also fundraising for Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust.

Nick Sautner, Eden Park chief executive, said watching thousands of passionate New Zealanders from young children to elders perform Ka Mate at the stadium was a truly memorable moment.

“It’s more than just numbers – it’s about honoring our cultural legacy on a global stage,” Sautner said in a statement released late Sunday.

Almost 1 million of New Zealand's 5.2 million population have Maori ancestry.