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Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
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Cultural Activities of King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Conclude with Over 320 Competitive Rounds

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo
The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival - SPA/File Photo

The ninth edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival concluded on Thursday with the Al-Fahl Al-Muntij competitions for the “Shaal,” “Safar,” and “Wadah” categories, marking the end of an exceptional event held under the theme “Pride of Its People.”

The festival aimed to elevate camels as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and as a source of both local and global pride and interest.
Spanning more than 30 days, the festival featured over 320 competitive rounds, including Mazayen, Hajij, Tabaa, and camel races.

The event showcased a variety of camel types, such as Majahim, Wadah, Shaqah, Hamr, Safar, Shaal, Asayel, Sawahel, and hybrid camels, according to SPA.
Dedicated categories were organized for both individual and group competitions, drawing extensive participation from camel owners across the Gulf region, the Arab world, and beyond. Notably, the festival featured the Princess Nourah’s Round, exclusively for women, highlighting their contributions to camel heritage.
The final day was a cultural celebration, with diverse activities for attendees. The cultural tent hosted various programs, including Hanna Lahaa performances, camel owners’ celebrations, and vibrant camel processions entering the Rimat gates to be showcased before judging panels. Presentations on algorithm-based judging stages captivated audiences, culminating in the announcement of results, which drew enthusiastic reactions from the crowd.

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Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
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Sumo to Stage Event in Paris as Part of Global Push

People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)
People gather at the entrance of Ryogoku Kokugikan for the arrival of sumo wrestlers during the Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on January 19, 2025. (AFP)

Sumo will stage a tournament in Paris for the first time in over three decades next year in a push to expand the ancient sport beyond Japan, organizers said Sunday.

Accor Arena, which hosted basketball and gymnastics events at last year's Paris Olympics, will stage a two-day competition featuring top wrestlers in the French capital in June 2026.

Japan Sumo Association (JSA) officials announced last month that they will also stage a tournament later this year at London's Royal Albert Hall -- the first overseas sumo competition in 20 years.

"It's important for us to show our sport to the world," JSA chairman Hakkaku told reporters at Tokyo's Kokugikan, where the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament is currently taking place.

"And for the wrestlers, they're the best in the world, they should be proud of that and see that they're admired all over the world."

Paris hosted sumo tournaments in 1986 and 1995 at the invitation of former French president Jacques Chirac, who was known to be a huge fan of the centuries-old sport.

Hakkaku, who competed at the 1986 Paris event, said he was "grateful for the long and deep relations between sumo and France".

"We feel renewed joy and great responsibility as we prepare for our third performance in Paris in 2026," he said.

"We are committed to fully sharing the charm of sumo... with the French people."

French organizers said they would pull out all the stops to recreate the atmosphere of a sumo tournament in Japan.

David Rothschild, promoter and executive producer for events organizers AEG, said the Paris tournament would be part of a "festival" celebrating Japanese culture.

"When you say the word sumo, everyone in France knows it represents traditional Japanese culture," he said.

"There was a time when it was shown on TV and there are people in France who are very knowledgeable about it," Rothschild added.

"But time flies and we want to introduce the beauty of sumo to a new generation."

Sumo has staged events in several countries around the world, including the Soviet Union, Mexico and the United States.

The last overseas tournament organized by the JSA was in Las Vegas in 2005.

Hakkaku, the JSA chairman, said the association's efforts to bring sumo to audiences abroad were meant to "introduce people to the traditional culture of Japan".

"We thought a lot about how to develop our sport after Covid and I think this was the best idea, but it was already in our plans before that," he said.