28.05.2026 20:40
The Historical Fevziye Wrestling, the longest-standing and last surviving village-level wrestling tradition in Turkey, is set to return for its 116th year under the leadership of Altınova Municipality. Turkey's wrestlers will gather at the Marmara's Arena of Champions, Fevziye Wrestling, on June 19-20. Yasemin Fazlaca, Mayor of Yalova Altınova, invited all citizens to Fevziye Village to together experience and preserve this historic tradition that spans over a century.
The 116th Historical Fevziye Oil Wrestling Tournament, organized to keep alive our ancestral sport of oil wrestling and pass it on to future generations, returns to the wrestling arena after a long hiatus.
''THE LONGING ENDS, THE WRESTLING ARENA IS REESTABLISHED''
Announced with the slogan "The longing ends, the wrestling arena is reestablished," this grand gathering will once again feature drums beating, prayers recited, and Turkey's wrestlers locking arms in Marmara's wrestling arena. Fevziye Village, where local games and traditions will be kept alive, will once again host a significant cultural festival.
''RISING AGAIN IN ITS 116TH YEAR''
Altınova Mayor Yasemin Fazlaca, who ensured the revival of the Fevziye Oil Wrestling Tournament, one of Altınova's deep-rooted values, said, "This is Fevziye Wrestling Arena. We are ready; the longing ends. Our ancient tradition of Altınova, the undying torch of our ancestral sport, the Historical Fevziye Oil Wrestling Tournament rises again in its 116th year. We invite all our fellow citizens to the Fevziye Village Wrestling Arena on June 19-20 to experience and sustain this historic tradition that has spanned a century together."
Fevziye Village Mukhtar Ahmet Necmi Yüksel, recalling that wrestlers who have performed on the podium in Fevziye throughout history have also competed in Kırkpınar, stated that as a village keeping the oil wrestling tradition alive for 116 years, they hold a significant value in Turkey. Yüksel thanked Altınova Mayor Yasemin Fazlaca for pioneering and supporting the revival of the historic wrestling event.
SCHEDULED EVENTS
This grand gathering, bridging tradition and the future, will begin on Friday, June 19, at 8:00 PM with a concert program and a Caucasian folk dance performance. On Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 AM onwards, the wrestlers will step onto the wrestling arena.