3Rd International Ethnosport Forum Ends In Turkey

The 3rd International Ethnosport Forum concluded in Turkey on Sunday with a call for national strategies to ensure coexistence of traditional and modern sports.

The theme for this year's edition was 'Elevating Traditional Sports' and the two-day event was held over the weekend in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

Around 200 people, including ministers, government officials, representatives of sports federations, and academics from 55 countries, attended the forum organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC).

The participants worked together to identify issues and determine ways to promote traditional sports, publishing a joint declaration at the end of the event.

"Governments should develop national strategies on how traditional and modern sports may coexist. They can contribute to traditional sports … by making necessary legal arrangements, improving institutionalization, encouraging media [coverage] … and encouraging sponsorship," the declaration said.

It stressed the need to modify sports from a simple competition model to one with sociocultural context, and called for efforts to raise awareness on traditional sports.

"The first and most urgent step to protect traditional sports … is that historical, ethnographic, anthropological, and sociological research should be encouraged with the help of universities," it added.

"Social, institutional, political, economic, and educational systems should be developed in the context of solidarity."

In his closing speech, Bilal Erdogan, the head of WEC, said traditional sports and games can help protect cultures, identities, and societal values.

"Traditional sports are a part of our culture and identity. If we keep them alive and make sure our future generations take an interest, we can protect and preserve our national values," he said.

He added that traditional sports also promote mutual respect for different cultures of various societies. "These sports are a great way of encouraging solidarity between nations and cultures," said Erdogan.

Traditional sports awards

The end of the event was marked by a ceremony for the 2nd Traditional Sports Awards.

Hungary's Lojos Kassai took home the award of Senior Traditional Sport Player, while Samil Islamov received the Junior Traditional Sport Player Award.

Japan Equestrian Archery Association was honored with the Traditional Sports Organization Branch Award, and the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) received the International Sponsorship Award.

Mehmet Turkmen and Innokentiy Grigoriev received the Senior Academic and Leadership awards, respectively.

Next year's forum will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut -