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The Arabian Peninsula is one of the last places
in the world where falconry remains an important sporting activity.
It is particularly popular among the wealthy. Desert nomads appreciated
the stamina and hunting instincts of the falcon, and enjoyed the intense
work of training the birds to hunt. The Houbara bustard, a large,
fast-flying desert bird about the size of a heron, is the falcon's
chief prey. The falcon requires great skill to track down a bird of
this size and speed, and covers distances of four or five kilometres
before finally capturing its prey. An experienced falconer follows the
falcon in a jeep or on a horse to be on hand the moment it captures
its prey.
Many Qataris enjoy sailing along the coast and
hold races for dhows (traditional wooden sailing boats). Horse
racing and camel racing are also very popular. Jockeys ride the camels,
which are capable of running very fast. There is an atmosphere of
tremendous excitement among the spectators at the camel-racing track
in Qatar, and some spectators even follow the camels in their
cars. |
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Qatar hosts a variety of international sporting
events, including tennis and golf tournaments, squash championships,
sailboat races, car rallies and the Qatar International Desert Marathon.
Soccer is especially popular; there are 14 stadiums for soccer matches
in Doha alone. The Qatari national soccer team attracts thousands of
spectators and reached the quarter finals at the 1996 Olympics in
Barcelona.
Boys enjoy playing the Al Ghomaid game,
in which one boy is blindfolded and has to catch one of the others,
who try to avoid him and make noises to confuse him. When the blindfolded
boy catches one of the other players, that boy is then blindfolded. Girls
play Umm Al Ial. One girl plays the role of the mother who defends
her children against a wolf, represented by another girl. Qatari children
also enjoy visiting Doha's amusement park, Aladdin's Kingdom, also known
as the Family Fun Park of a Thousand and One Delights. |
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Did you know? |
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The waterfront of Doha, known as the Corniche, is a
spacious promenade around the harbour, lined with palm trees. Qataris
enjoy walking and picnicking on the Corniche and gather there to watch
boat races.
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