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Theyab bin Hamdan Al-Howaiti sets sights on glory at the Crown Prince Camel Festival Awards.
Theyab bin Hamdan Al-Howaiti has become a standout name in camel racing circles across the Kingdom — despite his tender years.
The 17-year-old has collected 30 local awards for racing, the most prestigious of which came at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.
Al-Howaiti said: “I grew up in a family and community that loved camels, used them, and were keen to race as well. We considered it part of our heritage, customs and traditions.”
Hailing from Al-Wajh city, his love for the “ship of the desert” began in childhood years and he soon began training, raising and caring for them, while also following races. Once he had reached the legal age, he began participating in national races himself.
Al-Howaiti has competed in around 80 races, including the Al-Wajh Camel Race, and has won 30 awards so far.
Camel racing is a competitive sport in which the animals undergo training in stages, beginning with being tamed and then moving on to being prepared for races.
Racing has strict rules, the most important of which involves the characteristics of the participating camels — the necessity of descending from purebred Arabian breeds.
Purebred camels are characterized by their slim bodies, agility, and great ability to withstand tough training. There are separate races for different breeds and ages of camels to ensure equal opportunities for all racers.
Al-Howaiti has set his sights for the future. He hopes one day to claim glory at the Crown Prince Camel Festival Awards, No. 1 in prestigious ranks within Saudi society.
Al-Howaiti said: “I hope to see a place and arena for camels in every city within the Kingdom, in appreciation of its (racing’s) status and the legacy it carries that embodies the history of the Kingdom’s civilization.
“In light of the care and attention given to sports in general and camel sports in particular by the Kingdom’s sovereigns, we’re proud to name 2024 as the Year of the Camel.”
He added that the recognition contributed to the cultural and civilizational values of the animal while cementing its place at the heart of Saudi society.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Seventeen-year-old Theyab bin Hamdan Al-Howaiti has competed in around 80 races, including the Al-Wajh Camel Race. (SPA)
Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie yesterday inaugurated Umm Al Seneem Park, with the largest air-conditioned jogging tracks in the world, in Umm Al Seneem, Al Rayan Municipality, breaking Guinness World Records.
The 1,143-metre-long air-conditioned jogging tracks received the title of Guinness World Records for the ‘longest air-conditioned outdoor path’ on October 17, 2022.
The jogging tracks, ensuring temperatures about 26 degree Celsius aim at encouraging visitors for exercise in a bid to make them fit and healthy.
Speaking to the media, Minister of Municipality said that Umm Al Seneem Park spreads over an area over 130,000sqm is part of an initiative of the Ministry to improve the quality of life by increasing green spaces in Qatar.
“We have increased the green spaces in the country over 10 times, compared to those in 2010 by building parks, landscaping and green areas,” said the Minister. He said that public parks are equipped with fitness machines, children play areas and joggers trackers, including some of them air-conditioned for the comport of visitors.
“The parks have been built following sustainability goals to cut the carbon footprint and provide fresh air to visitors,” said the Minister, adding that the efforts will continue to open more new parks in near future.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Director of Public Parks Department, Muhammad Ali Al Khouri said that the jogging tracks of Umm Al Seneem Park has been registered in the Guinness World Records and an official certificate for the title of the record was issued by the officials about a week ago.
The Umm Al Seneem Park was developed by the Public Works Authority (Ahghal) in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality.
The park, stretching over an area of 130,105sqm, can accommodate about 6,000 visitors per day. The green spaces of the park covers 68 percent of total areas, 88,400sqm dotted with 912 trees of 18 types, including 75 local trees and 820sqm long green walls. The park includes many important facilities, including the outdoor air-conditioned jogging-track for running and walking with a length of 1,143 metres, which is in a circular shape around the park.
The cycling track is 1,135 meters long. There are three areas for exercises, a fitness box that allows visitors to exercise through a screen that displays a trainer teaching exercises. The park also has two children’s play areas, one for the age group 2 to 5, and the other for 6 to 12 years, with games dedicated to children with special needs.
There are seven service kiosks, including six for food and beverages, one kiosk for renting bicycles and bicycle parking, besides providing garden furniture, locally manufactured benches from Fiber Concrete (GRC) and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).
Energy-saving lighting poles haven installed. There are parking spaces for people with special needs, in addition to seven water fountains, prayer rooms, and bathrooms.
The eco-friendly air-conditioning system of jogging tracks relies on generating 60% of the electricity required to operate the air conditioners with solar panels, reducing electricity consumption while maintaining temperatures up to 26 degrees Celsius.
Director of Public Parks Department Muhammad Ali Al Khouri said that the number of public parks in Qatar increased from 56 in 2010 to 143 in 2022, recording 164% growth.
He said that green spaces jumped from 2,614,994sqm in 2010 to 43,861,133sqm in 2022, taking per capita share of green space from 1sqm in 2010 to 16.2sqm in 2022, recording 16-fold growth. “The total number of trees that have been planted across the country under ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative has reached 1,193,665, surpassing the target, which is equivalent to 15,517,645sqm green areas,” said Al Khouri.
Eng Mohammad Arqoub Al Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar said Umm Al Seneem is an added value for achieving the environmental sustainability strategy, and enabling citizens and residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Director of Building Affairs Department at Ashghal, Eng Jarallah Al Marri said that the park is eco-friendly as its air-conditioning system is powered by solar energy.
The Minister of Municipality of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, with other officials at the Longest AC Outdoor Path Guinness Record park at Umm Al Saneem. Picture by Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Zineb, a remarkable 34-year-old Moroccan woman with a passion for football and an extraordinary career journey, has made history as the first Arab woman in the UAE to obtain a FIFA Football Agent licence. This achievement marks the pinnacle of a multifaceted career that spans two decades of professional football, executive leadership roles in global corporations.
Born with a profound love for the beautiful game, Zineb embarked on her professional football journey at the tender age of 14. For an impressive 20 years, she showcased her exceptional skills on the pitch, earning acclaim and respect both locally and internationally. Her unwavering dedication and talent opened doors that would eventually lead her to a groundbreaking role as a FIFA agent.
Parallel to her football career, Zineb pursued her academic dreams, earning a Trilingual Finance Degree from HEC Montreal and further honing her skills at ICADE Business School. Armed with a strong educational foundation, she ventured into the corporate world, joining prestigious global corporations such as GE. Zineb seamlessly balanced her roles on and off the football field, demonstrating exceptional leadership and managerial prowess.
One of Zineb’s most impressive accomplishments is her cultural and linguistic versatility. Having lived in 13 countries, she possesses a deep understanding of international cultures, fostering an open-mindedness and adaptability that have been instrumental in her career success. Fluent in four languages – Arabic, English, French & Spanish – she transcends cultural and geographical boundaries with ease. Her ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds has played a pivotal role in her professional success and global experiences. Her journey through these diverse landscapes has imbued her with a unique perspective that she now brings to her role as a FIFA agent.
In a life defined by extraordinary achievements, Zineb’s latest feat as the first Arab female FIFA agent in the UAE is nothing short of groundbreaking. She successfully passed the rigorous FIFA Football Agent exam, solidifying her position as a trailblazer in the world of sports and representation. Her new role will enable her to empower athletes, foster talent, and advocate for gender equality in the world of football.
Zineb serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, young professionals, and women worldwide, proving that determination, passion, and a commitment to excellence can break down barriers and open doors to limitless possibilities.
With this historic achievement, Zineb continues to write her own remarkable story, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports, corporate leadership, and international relations. Her journey stands as a testament to the power of ambition and the potential of the human spirit.
She has broken two world records at 2023 International Powerlifting Federation World Junior Championships.
When she stepped on to the platform amid enthusiastic cheers from her supporters, Lebanese powerlifter Joya Khairallah, 22, was faced with a steel bar loaded with several red plates weighing an impressive total of 183.5kg.
This was an immense challenge for the young woman, weighing only 52kg, but she had to overcome it if she wanted to claim first-place at the 2023 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Junior Championships.
No one in her category had ever accomplished this feat, until August 29 in Cluj-Napoca in Romania, when Miss Khairallah firmly grasped the heavy bar and pulled it from the ground level to her hips, a movement called a “deadlift” – one of three lifts performed in powerlifting.
When she reached the lockout position, marking the end of the movement, she screamed in triumph and knelt to the floor, having just broken the world record.
“After stepping on to the platform, I initially had doubts because I was exhausted, and my back was hurting, but I persevered, I got it and I won,” she told The National in Beirut during her first training session, a few days after the international competition.
“There’s no actual word that really describes how I felt. It feels wonderful, but I’m still a bit in denial,” she added.
The Lebanese champion achieved a total of 428.5kg for the three lifts (bench, squat, and deadlift), setting yet another IPF Junior World Record in her weight class.
This exceptional performance earned Khairallah a gold medal in the competition for Lebanon.
The country has been grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis for four years and had made the headlines for its shortages of basic goods, and numerous corruption cases.
But this time, the country has been celebrating athletic achievements.
“It’s a big honour for me to represent Lebanon, I raised the flag high. I hope I could give hope to people, even though we’re going through a lot in Lebanon,” Khairallah said, sporting a small Lebanese flag painted on one of her nails.
Another Lebanese powerlifter, Etienne El Chaer, 22, set two world records in the Junior’s under 120kg categoryandclaiming gold at the same competition.
‘Women can be powerful, just like men’
Khairallah’s journey has not been easy.
Born in Beirut, the young woman started training in high school five years ago.
As she dedicated more time to her passion, she met significant resistance.
Powerlifting is generally labelled as a man’s sport and Khairallah had to challenge deeply ingrained gender stereotypes within Lebanese society.
“I met a lot of people who said that I shouldn’t lift weights because it’s a sport for men and that having a lot of muscles doesn’t look beautiful on a girl and that it takes away some of our femininity”, she said, with her carefully curled dark hair flowing down her shoulders.
She recalls with a laugh that her mother once told her not to wear a dress at her sister’s wedding because she had become too muscular.
But she persevered.
“I enjoy proving people wrong, and I love doing what I’m passionate about. Women can be powerful, just like men, and it’s an incredible feeling,” she said.
After high school, she trained hard to become a certified coach. Her parents, although unfamiliar with the sport, eventually supported her.
She now works as a personal trainer and runs a home-made peanut butter business called “Joya the Ant Peanut Butter”.
She said that her accomplishments have required many “sacrifices,” such as strict dietary discipline, rigorous training, and missing out on nights out and weekends with her family.
But her dedication is paying off. She has participated in five international competitions over the past five years, including two world championships, and secured a silver medal in the 2022 event.
But being an athlete in Lebanon comes with many financial challenges.
The Lebanese champion says special athletes’ food, membership fees, dedicated equipment, and travel expenses to competitions are all costly.
“So, they really do add up, and in our current financial situation, it’s not easy,” she said.
Furthermore, athletes from certain countries also have to navigate the endless struggle of securing a visa.
Khairallah said that she did not receive her visa until the day before her scheduled flight to Romania.
“During my last training sessions, I was training hopelessly. These were the crucial final sessions where I should have been entirely focused on the weights, but I couldn’t concentrate because I was scared I wouldn’t get the visa, and that I wasn’t going to make my dream come true,” she told The National.
She eventually obtained the precious document and realised not only her dream but also that of her many Lebanese supporters.
Razan Al-Ajmmi plans to open international school in Saudi Arabia
People should visit ‘to see the beauty of the land from the sky,’ she says
Razan Al-Ajmmi, Saudi Arabia’s first licensed woman skydiver, has the lofty ambition of opening a school to help others take to the skies.
She outlined her plans during a recent interview on The Mayman Show by Arab News.
“I want to have like international competitions. I want to see the people around the world coming to Saudi Arabia, to my country, to see the beauty of the land from the sky,” she said.
Al-Ajmmi said it was difficult for her to start skydiving because Saudi Arabia has no schools, which forced her to seek training and jumps abroad.
She was determined to follow her passion. “If I don’t have something in my place, in my home, it doesn’t mean that is like an excuse or (should) stop me,” she said.
Al-Ajmmi said her first jump, about four years ago, was just a spontaneous try. After that experience, she quickly became a fan of the sport. “After the first jump, and when I just landed, I went to my instructor, and I say: ‘Hey man, I want to be a skydiver. I want this,’” she said.
Al-Ajmmi said she enjoys everything about the extreme sport, including the mental and physical challenges.
“I always like (having) freedom to do what I want to do in my life. And the idea of flying in the sky and you just fly, there is no rules, nothing except the safety rules. And you can do everything in the sky. This is what I like in the skydiving, I just go out from the plane and being in the sky, flying, move my body and do whatever I want to do,” she said.
Al-Ajmmi said she had to go through several levels of training to get an A-license, which requires a minimum of 25 jumps. The top level is a D-license, which is achieved after getting A and B accreditations.
All skydivers must complete an Accelerated Freefall course, a kind of bootcamp. This is for beginners to learn freefall techniques, canopy control, and emergency procedures, which would lead to solo jumps, she explained.
She recognizes the risks associated with skydiving and stressed that split-second decisions are often needed to prevent major errors and accidents. She said safety measures include the automatic opening of a second parachute.
The adrenaline enthusiast has advice for those wanting to try the sport. “Always try before (making) decisions. If you have a chance … just use them, take them, try and work hard. Life is not easy. Nothing is easy. You cannot take your things like by (an) easy way. What comes easy, goes easy.”
Yasmine Idriss hopes her ‘heroine’s journey’ will inspire others to take the road less traveled.
Earlier this year, Yasmine Idriss sat down with Arab News just before setting off to Iceland to cycle the country’s Ring Road on the journey of a lifetime. Now, she has become the first Arab woman to complete the grueling trip.
Initially, she thought her time on the road — which runs for almost 1,400 km — would give her the chance to plan her next career move. Little did she know she would pedal her way to much deeper enlightenment.
Her entire journey, from raging winds to sweet serenity, is captured in a documentary film titled “Threshold,” due out in 2024.
“I open up quite a bit (in the film) about what this was for me and what the ‘heroine’s journey’ is. The heroine’s journey isn’t just a woman going through the hero’s journey. (It) has a lot more surrender embedded in it, and that’s a huge theme of what Iceland was for me,” she told Arab News.
While Idriss knew there was no way to replicate the effects of Iceland’s biting winds during her training period, she hadn’t expected them to be quite as fierce as they were — she faced the highest winds of the entire season and was blown off track in all directions. With oncoming traffic on one side and sharp rocks on the other, she prayed for stability.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Yasmine Idriss’s entire journey is captured in a documentary film titled ‘Threshold’ due out in 2024.
• Kathi Hendrick helped create the narrative for the documentary while Madison Hoffmann is the lead filmmaker.
“It was a very brutal welcoming to what this Ring Road journey was going to be about,” she said.
With the exception of just two days in her three-week trip, the wind was constant — not stopping “even for a second,” she said. While most life challenges come in waves, ebbing and flowing, the continuous assault brewed frustration.
“Why? What is the purpose? What can I be learning from this? Why is this so hard?” Idriss says she wondered.
Her close friend — and one of her two companions on the road — Kathi Hendrick, said to her: “Wind stops inertia, wind forces you to move, it forces you to be awake, otherwise you would fall.”
The physical challenges paralleled the emotional. Realizing that she was exerting more strength than needed, she surrendered.
“The muscles that needed to be working were working, and the muscles that didn’t need to be working were relaxed. Psychologically, how that translated was: I just let anything that needed to happen, happen,” she explained.
I feel proud to be able to represent Saudi women. I don’t feel like I’m the first. There are so many amazing Saudi women who have paved the way for me, (who have) done amazing things (and) are doing amazing things.
Yasmine Idriss, Cyclist
Hendrick supported the cyclist on the trip and helped create the narrative for the upcoming documentary, while Madison Hoffmann, also a good friend, was the lead filmmaker.
Idriss said: “Somehow the three of us were mirroring each other’s experiences. Each of us was going through something very similar; even though I was on a bike and they were in the van, there was a sort of synchronicity that was happening. It was just really beautiful to see the magic that can happen when women come together in a supportive way.”
The trip was meant to help clarify what the next chapter of her life would look like. Idriss had just left her position as the head of a sustainable footwear company, which she thought was her dream job.
Removing herself from the responsibilities of daily life, and being disconnected from family and friends, ignited a deep transformation, as trips of this nature tend to do. “Over 20 days on the bike, it was an inward journey,” she said.
While there was no hiding from the elements, there was no avoiding the self either. From ending a close relationship to facing difficult questions, “everything was brought to light,” Idriss said, adding that that was exactly what she needed.
Idriss is now advocating for time away to recharge and innovate in a hyper-productive society, packed with intense working hours and social commitments.
She explained: “For Vision 2030, we’re developing like crazy. We’re one of the fastest developing countries in the world, and it’s happening with such beautiful leadership. We also need rest, and we need space, and we need to take care of ourselves in order to be as productive as our communities need us to be right now.”
While she primarily embarked on the journey for her own self-exploration, she humbly hopes to drive others to do the same.
“I feel proud to be able to represent Saudi women. I don’t feel like I’m the first. There are so many amazing Saudi women who have paved the way for me, (who have) done amazing things (and) are doing amazing things,” she said. “If I can be a mirror for the world to look at what women are doing in Saudi Arabia, then that would be a huge privilege. And if I can inspire others to go on their own road, whether that’s a walk in the neighborhood, or climbing Mount Everest like Raha Moharrak, then I have accomplished my mission.”
Immersing herself in the landscapes of Iceland, with all the challenges and revelations that it brought, inspired her to “(bring) this work to others and invite others into similar journeys of transformation in a very different form. This is what I’m working on next.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Yasmine Idriss has made history as the first Arab woman to complete the grueling 1,400 km cycling trip along the Nordic Ring Road. (Supplied)
It is now recognized as the largest falconry competition in the world, with 2,654 falcons participating.
The King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2023 has set a new world record by entering in the Guinness World Records for the third time in its history, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
It is now recognized as the largest falconry competition in the world, with 2,654 falcons participating.
The festival was held between Nov. 28 and Dec. 14 and was organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The accomplishment stands as a testament to the backing of the Saudi leadership in safeguarding the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
In its inaugural year, the festival secured a Guinness World Record with 1,723 falcons, and in the following year in 2019, it repeated this feat by including 2,350 falcons.
The event drew falconers from the Kingdom, Gulf countries and across the world, who competed for the festival’s awards over 17 days. Falconers vied for places in the Al-Mazayen and Al-Milwah competitions, with prizes exceeding SR33.6 million ($8.91 million).
As part of efforts to enhance the ancient falconry heritage of the Kingdom, the Saudi Falcons Club is partnering with the Royal Commission for AlUla governorate to organize the first AlUla Falconry Cup 2023.
The competition will be held in AlUla governorate from Dec. 28 to Jan. 5, with prizes worth up to SR60 million in the Al-Milwah and Al-Mazayen competitions. These represent the largest financial prizes in the history of falconry competitions in the world.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The festival was held between Nov. 28 and Dec. 14 and was organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. (SPA)
Doha-based experienced gymnast Ayoub Touabe smashed the Guinness World Records title for the Most single leg backwards somersaults in 30 seconds with 12, breaking a new, never-previously-attempted world record.
A somersault is a movement in gymnastics in which a person flips in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head.
Ayoub is said to be among a few people globally who are able to do this movement on a consecutive basis on one leg. In fact, the movement puts a lot of pressure on a single leg plus the lower back, making it very challenging even for experienced gymnasts. Based in Doha, Qatar, Ayoub developed this skill during his 23-year career and managed to set a world record at the age of 32.
Ayoub started his journey by mimicking his father’s gymnastic moves at the age of almost 8 years young in 1998. He started professional training at a later age, but also got his degree at a medical institute. He suffered from multiple injuries during his training career. He said:
“I don’t think I spared any part of my body without some sort of an injury”.
“I managed to do my first somersault in 2009, but it took me another 18 months to do another one consecutively. By 2011, I uploaded a video on YouTube doing 10 consecutively. After thorough research, I realised there is no one globally who can do as many.”
Ayoub is currently training people to do gymnastics. His most experienced student has managed to do the first somersault. He adds:
“The moment you realise how to balance and work out your back flexibility and leg stability is when you know how to do it” he added “I am 5 ft 8 in tall and weigh 89kg, which makes somersaults physically very challenging.”
Ayoub’s goal now is to teach more people the value of doing sports, and stand against society’s resistance to sports:
“Throughout the years, I have been told multiple times to give up my sports career, and focus on my university degree, but I refused and today with a Guinness World Records title, I am glad I didn’t give up.”
First held in 2004 to mark Guinness World Records becoming the best-selling copyright book of all time, GWR Day has inspired some now iconic record-breaking achievements. Guinness World Records today celebrates the eighteenth annual GWR Day. Celebrating the theme of Super Skills, record-breaking hopefuls from across the globe have put on a jaw-dropping display of dedication, persistence and elite-level talent. This year over 1000 applications were received from aspiring record-breakers across the world, hoping to attempt records on GWR Day to secure their place in the next edition of the book.
Source and cover image credit: Guinness World Records Press Release
Razan Al-Rajhi is riding high after completing a 100 km endurance race in France.
Saudi jockey Razan Al-Rajhi is riding high after completing a 100 km endurance race in France — less than a year after taking to the saddle.
And her achievement in Le Pertre was recently celebrated at an event organized by the Al-Sarim Al-Battar Academy at its stable in Janadriyah, on the northern outskirts of Riyadh.
The academy offers a program dedicated to training female jockeys.
Al-Rajhi told Arab News: “The endurance race in France was challenging, but I was determined to demonstrate that Saudi women are capable of achieving anything.”
Just 11 months ago, Al-Rajhi did not know how to ride a horse but was determined to learn. She raced twice in Bahrain before applying for the event in France, where she qualified and earned her first star.
More than 60 riders from Europe also took part.
Al-Rajhi leads a team of 15 girls. She said: “As beginners in this field, we support and inspire each other. My girls work hard, push themselves, and I’m proud of their dedication.”
For world cup race qualification, she must now complete 120 km for her second star, and 160 km for her third.
Hatem Hassanein, an international referee, coach, and academy owner, said Al-Rajhi, the only Arab female participant in the championship, amazed jockeys, participants, and judges with her skills.
“I teach girls to ride horses while also helping them build bravery and commitment,” he added.
Al-Rajhi is preparing for the 2024 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in AlUla, an international endurance racing world cup.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Al-Rajhi is the first female horse rider from the program to participate in European races, specifically in France in the Le Pertre region, after obtaining the approval of the Saudi Federation to participate in this tournament in which more than 60 male and female riders from various European countries participated, achieving the distance required of them. (Supplied)
When a Saudi Arabian athlete rowed her boat over 6.2 miles of open water in 57 minutes and 24 seconds, she smashed the Guinness World Record.
Kariman Abuljadayel tried to break the record in the Red Sea off the coast of Jeddah after being the first Saudi woman to compete in the 100-meter event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
She claimed that the endeavour was hampered by the intense heat and other issues.
Abuljadayel told Guinness World Records, “That day had a strong current that slowed the boat down. I was forced to put in more effort to just maintain the movement let alone move fast for the sake of breaking the record.” She said, “I will be honest, I wanted to quit, it was too much, but a strong voice of determination within me that drove me to continue rowing and break through the imaginary barriers.”
According to GWR, the athlete broke the record for the quickest time to row 10 kilometers (open water) in rowing.
“I want express my appreciation to my mother, Suraya Alshehry,” Kariman said. “Who nurtured this early passion and guided it before it faded. She is my role model and hero.”
source/content: bolnews.com (headline edited)
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source: Fastest time to row 10km (open water) – Guinness World Records / youtube.com
