Turkish archery to be introduced to world

Traditional Turkish archery will be introduced to the world with the Kemankeş Project organized by the Archers Foundation and the Yunus Emre Institute (YEE). According to information from YEE and the Archers Foundation, which works so that traditional sports, especially archery, are perceived with their national, historical, athletic, artistic, cultural and educational qualities, and YEE, which introduces Turkey's values to the world with 79 contact points and 54 institutions in 61 countries on five continents, will organize the Kemankeş Project. In the first year, athletes from YEEs in Germany, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Morocco, Palestine, Persia, Japan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Turkish Cyprus, Lebanon, Malaysia, Egypt, Poland, Serbia, Sudan and Jordan will be trained in traditional Turkish archery at the Archers Foundation Sport and Culture Center.

40 chosen from 550 applicants

The program will be held in Istanbul Nov. 27 to Dec. 4 for 40 people chosen from among 550 applicants, 200 of which are women and girls. The athletes will have a busy archery education at the facilities at the Archers Lodge, established in the Okmeydanı district due to an edict from Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, and have the opportunity to experience Turkish culture. In the facilities, open and closed training grounds, classes, conditioning halls, arrow and bow making workshops and dining will take place in the biggest archery shooting range in the world.

The education, which will transfer theoretical and practical information about traditional Turkish archery in line with the schedule prepared by the Archery Research Institution, will have 33 lessons. As part of the program, subjects such as shooting techniques and the point scoring system of Turkish archery will be taught. Participants will also be shown around Istanbul's historic and cultural places.

After the syllabus is completed, participants will take part in a competition. At the end of the competition, athletes will receive certificates from Archers Foundation head Haydar Ali Yıldız, Archers Foundation Board of Trustees member Bilal Erdoğan and YEE head Şeref Ateş.

Turkish archery events to be held in 16 countries

After returning to their countries, participants will teach Turkish archery courses with handmade archery materials in special classes at YEEs in their countries. Everyone interested in Turkish culture will be able to get an education in archery classes and take target practice.

Exhibitions, workshops and performances about Turkish archery will also be organized in these 16 countries.

These workshops and performances will be run by trainers to introduce this traditional sport and figures known for their mastery of archery. Turkish archery will also be presented with its history and culture in exhibitions.

Archers to attend Turkish summer school

The most successful course attendees will have the opportunity to attend Turkish summer school. YEE hosts 700 students from nearly 60 countries every year.

They will participate in many cultural courses, such as marbling, pottery, cooking, bağlama (Anatolian long-necked lute) and folk dances, visit geographical and cultural places and take Turkish language classes.