Australia : Foreign interest shown in outback camel trek

Abc.net.au - Full Story

Posted Thu Feb 21, 2008

A 150 kilometre camel endurance race being planned in western Queensland is attracting international interest.

Arid Lands Australia will hold its inaugural festival in Hughenden in August and says it is about to issue an official invitation to the president of the United Arab Emirates to attend the event.

President Paddy McHugh says the race will offer $50,000 in prize money and he is confident people from across the globe will attend.

"Absolutely ... the United Arab Emirates will have at least two or three vets who will be part of the veterinary team," he said.

"Then we've got interest coming from Canada, America, New Zealand, Malaysia - there's little bits of bites - we've got some interest out of Saudi Arabia as well to come and view the race.

"You've got to remember with the camels over there, it is their lifestyle, their world and for us to do something like this over here, they pay a bit of attention to it I suppose."