Istanbul festival spotlights Turkic sports and culture
The second annual Ethnosports Culture Festival, aims to promote and revive sports and cultures unique to ancient Turkic life.
- Türkiye
- Published Date: 12:00 | 11 May 2017
- Modified Date: 12:47 | 11 May 2017
A festival spotlighting Turkic sports and cultures from legendary ages past began in Istanbul on Thursday.
The second annual Ethnosports Culture Festival, sponsored by Anadolu Agency, aims to promote and revive sports and cultures unique to ancient Turkic life.
Hakan Kazanci, deputy chairman of the World Ethnosports Federation, told Anadolu Agency, "We aim to bring to light sports which are part of our blood."
He said the four-day festival hopes to introduce sports internationally while making it an Olympic-like event.
A total of 843 athletes are competing in 11 different sport categories.
There are feature events including mounted archery, horse riding, oil wrestling, traditional Turkic and Central Asian sports, and folk music concerts.
A group of traditional Turkic tents will also be displayed during the festival.
In oil wrestling, nearly 300 athletes will be grappling their way to glory.
The festival is also hosting 30 artists from various traditional mediums of art that have fallen into obscurity.
For children, 26 plays will be staged.
The festival runs through May 14.