13th Al Galayel Tournament to Kick Off Monday

Doha, January 22 (QNA) - The 13th Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting 2024 will kick off next Monday with the participation of 20 teams competing to win the tournament, which will be held in Al Eraiq Reserve until Feb. 20.
   Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting is considered one of the most important and exciting tournaments that reflects the hunter's skill in the inherited traditional hunting, which is known in Arab and Qatari culture in particular.
   In a statement to Qatar News Agency, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting 2024 Khalid bin Mohammed Al Maadeed, said that this year's tournament is sponsored by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) with the participation of 20 teams competing to see the best at hunting with the traditional means. He stressed that the most important goal of the tournament is not just hunting but the preservation of the Qatari environment, as the tournament's goals are in tune with the Qatar National Vision 2030 in protecting the environment. 
   The state attaches great importance to protecting wildlife and natural habitats, which is why many conservation areas and natural reserves have been established for the purpose of  maintaining environmental systems and their components, including Al Eraiq Reserve, where the tournament is held.
   The Reserve features valleys and highlands, many types of plants, and it is a shelter for migratory birds. Therefore, the Organizing Committee is keen to present a tournament that preserves the environment, as it is forbidden to enter the reserve by cars. Rather, it is limited to animals such as camels and horses. The Committee is also interested in returning the prey after the hunt, in addition to following up on the behavior of the hunters who have become aware enough to take into account the objectives of the tournament. 
   Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting explained that the tournament, which is annually sponsored by the General Organization of the Cultural Village (Katara), is in continuous development in order to achieve its objectives in promoting the heritage of falconry and hunting.
   He indicated that the new edition emphasizes the professionalism of the snipers in Qatar, as the history of the tournament which has been established for 13 years now reflects the extent of the Qatari hunters' ability to adventure, pointing out that the members of the Organizing Committee and the supporting committees are working hard to present the tournament in a manner that befits the name and reputation of Al Galayel and its long history among the hunter's tournaments, particularly with the participating teams' s awareness of the organizing laws.
   For his part, Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Al Galayel Tournament for Traditional Hunting, Executive Director of the tournament Mohammed bin Nahar Al Nuaimi, affirmed in a similar statement to QNA that the organizing committees of Al Galayel are fully prepared for the launch of the tournament, in all technical, administrative, financial and media aspects, adding that the organizing committees are working to provide all the requirements for the success of the tournament, in cooperation with the various concerned authorities.
   He clarified that this year's tournament will feature 20 teams divided into four groups, with the tournament kicking off on Monday, Jan. 29.
   The first-place team will receive a cash prize of QR one million. The second place winner will get QR 700,000, while the third place will win QR 500,000. An amount of QR100,000 is also awarded to the team that qualifies for the final of the tournament, while the award for the best press coverage for local newspapers is QR 10,000. (QNA)