Qatar trials robot substitute for child camel jockeys

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Robots have been used as jockeys in Qatar for camel races, a favourite sport in the Gulf which has faced widespread criticism over the use of young children from the Indian sub-continent.

“A race organised on Sunday saw for the first time the use of robot-jockeys, to the surprise of the crowd,” the president of the organising committee of camel races in Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Faisal al-Thani, said.

Source: Qatar trials robot substitute for child camel jockeys

The robots are made by a Swiss company and materials used are used in the aircraft industry as well. The robots have sensors transmitting information about the movements and speed of the camels. By the end of this year the company will have developed a more advanced device. (Source: De Morgen, april 3, 2004)

Further reading:

Hooves of thunder
Camel races (State of Quatar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Camel races (Doha Online network)
allcamels.com
Camel races in the Middle East – the camel jockeys are child slaves
Kidnapped children sold into slavery as camel racers
Death in the desert for Pakistan’s camel children
Father fights to keep son out of hands of camel jockeys

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