By Emrah Oktay
ISTANBUL (AA) - The aim of Türkiye’s Sixth Ethnosport Culture Festival is to convey messages of peace to the world, said head of the World Ethnosport Confederation on Thursday.
Emphasizing the importance of traditional sports activities, Bilal Erdogan expressed his satisfaction at organizing the festival, which just opened at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.
Stating that traditional sports and games are not separate from people’s lives, Erdogan expressed his expectation that people will be able to practice these sports in their daily lives.
Stressing the importance of solidarity and peace, Erdogan said: "We continue our mission not only for a specific geography but also for the future of all humanity.”
“We believe that the future of humanity depends on this solidarity and peace. Right here, we support solidarity and peace with the strong bonds we establish through our traditions,” he added.
Underlining how world events show how humanity needs peace more than ever, Erdogan said that the conflicts ongoing in different parts of the world, including “the genocide in Palestine,” push “us to work even harder for peace.”
“In these times, we must hold tightly onto the values that bind us together and define us. I see the Sixth Ethnosport Culture Festival as extremely important in this context,” he added.
Istanbul’s Governor Davut Gul stated that in an era dominated by globalization, it is crucial to preserve national culture.
Expressing his belief that the festival will continue for years to come, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak said that Türkiye organized the UEFA Champions League final last year with its modern stadiums.
“We will host the UEFA finals in 2026 and 2027. Türkiye, together with Italy, will host the 2032 UEFA European Football Championship. Türkiye is a country that hosts many international events. This is intercultural communication,” he added.
The festival, which is expected to draw thousands of visitors from both Türkiye and worldwide, continues through Sunday at the grounds of Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport.
*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul