US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1237

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Identifier:	05MUSCAT1237
Wikileaks:	View 05MUSCAT1237 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Muscat
Created:	2005-08-07 11:07:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PHUM ETRD ELAB PREL KOCI SCUL MU UNICEF Trafficking in Persons
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/RA, G/TIP (FASSEFA), DRL (JDEMARIA) 
STATE PASS USTR (AROSENBERG) 
USDOL FOR B. CLATANOFF 
US MISSION GENEVA FOR N. KYLOH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ETRD, ELAB, PREL, KOCI, SCUL, MU, UNICEF, Trafficking in Persons/Camel Racing 
SUBJECT: CAMEL JOCKEY AGE LIMITS INCREASED 
 
REF: A. MUSCAT 607 
     B. MUSCAT 863 
 
Fewer than four months after the Oman Equestrian and Camel 
Association (OECA) set a minimum age requirement for camel 
jockeys at 14 years (ref A), the Ministry of Sports announced 
it is raising that limit to 18.  As reported ref B, the 
Ministry of Sports took over the OECA on May 24, leading to 
expectations that it would bring camel racing under more 
formal supervision and regulatory control.  In recent weeks, 
Ministry of Sport Under Secretary Rashid al-Hinai has been 
touring camel racing facilities and breeding centers to 
discuss the new regulations.  Some of the reforms were 
publicized by the Oman News Agency on August 6, the most 
important being that the minimum age of camel jockeys will be 
raised annually by one year until it reaches 18 in 2009.  The 
new decision also makes the wearing of helmets and sportswear 
mandatory. 
BALTIMORE