AlUla Falcons Cup aims to attract Saudi youth

JEDDAH: The interactive activities and games at the AlUla Falcons Cup, held by the Saudi Falcons Club in collaboration the Royal Commission for AlUla at Mughira Heritage Sports Village in AlUla, have proven popular among children and aspiring falconers.

The games simulate the flight of falcons. Players stand in front of the interactive screen and move their hands, controlling the direction and speed of the bird’s flight.

The Children’s Corner also includes an area for drawing and coloring falcons, allowing children to develop their artistic skills.

The Children’s Corner is part of the Saudi Falcons Club’s efforts to educate children about falconry and falcons in order to pass an appreciation for this traditional cultural pastime down to a new generation.

This year’s AlUla Falcons Cup runs until Jan. 5, and offers the largest monetary rewards in the history of falconry competitions, with a total prize fund of SR60 million ($16 million).

For those taking part in the AlUla Falcon Cup, the event represents the culmination of the Saudi Falcons Club’s efforts to preserve and promote the ancient sport and is regarded with great pride.

Falconer Jazaa bin Muslim Al-Armani said the competitions organized by the club were among the best in the world and the prize money on offer enabled falconers to remain involved in the sport and pass on their skills to future generations.

Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Tarbaq said the cup was the largest of its kind in the world and was highly regarded for its organization and the warm reception offered to all falconers.

Al-Tarbaq said he prepared for the event by taking part in the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival at the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, which ended on Dec. 14.

Farhan bin Madsher Al-Ruwaili said he was proud to take part in the AlUla Falcon Cup and thanked the Falcons Club and Royal Commission for AlUla for organizing the tournament, which he said was a source of pride for the Kingdom, the Gulf and the Arab world.