20 Feb 2024

6th Ethnosport Forum Held in Antalya

Organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC), the 6th Ethnosport Forum has been held in Antalya. At the forum, 200 attendees from 60 countries laid out the road map for traditional sports. Addressing the participants during the forum’s opening speeches, WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan stated, “More and more with each passing day, humanity needs the principles of peace, solidarity, respect, and tradition, principles which the World Ethnosport Confederation has undertaken and upon which built its fields of activity.”

Ethnosport Forum Excitement in Antalya

Held this year between February 16-18 in Antalya, the 6th Ethnosport Forum hosted 200 participants from 60 countries under the theme of “The Revival of Traditional Sports.” The forum began with opening speeches and was conducted with panels, sessions, and various events discussing the future of traditional sports.

High-Level Participation Achieved

Sports ministers from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Chad, DR Congo, Russia, Namibia, and Türkiye attended the forum, as well as deputy sports ministers from Iran, Kosovo, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan alongside a high level of participation from many countries.

Joint Declaration Signed for the Revival of Traditional Sports

A joint declaration for the revival of traditional sports was signed with the involvement of WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan; Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan Farid Gayibov; Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye Osman Aşkın Bak; Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Chad Bravo Ouaidou; Democratic Republic of the Congo Minister of Sports and Recreation François Claude Kabulo; Minister for Youth and Sports of the Republic of Ghana Mustapha Ussif; Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Guinea Lansana Beavogui Diallo; Minister of Culture, Information, Sport and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic Altynbek Maksutov ; Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service of the Republic of Namibia Agnes Tjongarero; Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin; Sports Minister of Sierra Leone Madam Teima, and Minister of Sport of the Republic of Uzbekistan Adkham Ikramov.

Future of Traditional Sports Discussed

Following the opening speeches on the first day of the forum, a high-level Ministerial Panel was held, moderated by WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan. The panel evaluated the present and future of traditional sports. At the same time, experts in the field addressed the future projections of traditional sports in 3 different sessions.

Communications Panel Held

The 6th Ethnosport Forum’s second day began with the communications panel. The panel discussed the communications strategies of traditional sports, in which guests from Turkcell, Anadolu Agency, and BeIN expressed their opinions about applicable communications and media strategies for traditional sports.

Joint Intent Agreement Signed

An important step toward promoting and protecting traditional sports and cultural heritage was taken at the Forum, with a goodwill agreement being signed among 60 member federations of the World Ethnosport Confederation. This agreement marks the establishment of the common rules and principles that will guide the practices and activities within the confederation and aims to ensure cooperation and unity among the various cultural communities around the world.

Declaration Declared

The declaration was compiled of the issues discussed in the panels and sessions of the forum to which 200 participants from 60 countries had contributed over two days and was announced to the whole world on the second day of the Ethnosport Forum.

Collaboration for World Nomad Games

A collaboration agreement was signed between the World Ethnosport Confederation and the World Nomad Games Kazakhstan Organizing Committee regarding the 5th World Nomad Games to be held in Kazakhstan. This agreement was announced as being aimed at directing joint efforts and resources between the parties for the event’s successful organization.

Traditional Sports Awards Handed Out

This year, winners were given their traditional sports awards at the 6th Ethnosport Forum held in Antalya. The names of those who’d contributed to traditional sports were evaluated under seven different categories.

The World Ethnosport Confederation announced this year’s winners at the Traditional Sports Awards Ceremony, which it has been organizing since 2019 to reward those who contribute to the survival of traditional sports and games. This annual awards ceremony honors the individuals, institutions, and organizations that have contributed to traditional sports and games.

The Leadership Award was given to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his pioneering role in supporting traditional sports and games. While SOCAR was deemed worthy of the International Sponsorship Award, Prof. Dr. Yelemes Alimkhanov who is known for his academic studies won the Academician Award.

The Young Traditional Athlete Award was presented to Kazakh Wrestler Zarina Saripova from Kazakhstan, and the Adult Athlete Award was presented to the Oină athlete Bogdan Alexandru from Romania. The winner of the Best Traditional Sports Organization Award was Al-Gannas Qatari Society. Turkish Media was deemed worthy of the Communications Award for its support of traditional sports in the field of communications.

09 Jan 2023

The 6th Ethnosport Forum Will Be Held in Antalya

The 6th Ethnosport Forum, originally planned for 2023 then postponed due to the February 6th earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, will now take place in Antalya between February 16th and 18th, 2024. Focusing on the importance of traditional sports and exploring strategies for their short, medium, and long-term objectives.

Since its establishment, the World Ethnosport Confederation has remained committed to preserving the inherent identity of traditional sports and games, aiming to enhance cross-cultural interaction and visibility. With a foundation rooted in respect for humanity’s shared values, the WEC (World Ethnosport Confederation) continues its activities, aspiring to refresh the collective memory of societies through traditional sports and games. In this spirit, the WEC will convene at the 6th Ethnosport Forum to discuss the short, medium, and long-term strategies for traditional sports.

 

Antalya Hosts International Assembly

Representatives from 30 institutional members participate, coming from countries such as Kazakhstan, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Mongolia, Argentina, Türkiye, Tunisia, Poland, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Hungary, and Uzbekistan are expected to attend. Moreover, more than 10 state ministers and government officials from 75 different countries will be participating. Additionally, representatives from federations, researchers, and academics will also be in attendance.

 

Coming Together for the Revitalization of Traditional Sports

The forum will host sessions where experts in the field will discuss the future of traditional sports. Crucial topics such as the contribution of Ethnosport to international cooperation, financial resources, and media strategies in Ethnosport, and the widespread promotion of awards for traditional sports and games will be discussed throughout the forum. High-ranking state representatives from various countries will also participate.

 

WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan’s Opening Speech

The President of the World Ethnosport Confederation, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, will address participants in the opening speech. Following the opening remarks, the forum will continue with a Ministerial Panel. Hosting various events over two days, the forum will make significant contributions to the projection of “Revival of Traditional Sports.”

08 Mar 2022

5th Ethnosport Forum Held in Baku

The 5th Ethnosport Forum, organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC), took place in Azerbaijan. In the forum, 140 participants from 45 countries determined the roadmap of traditional sports. Addressing the participants in the opening speeches of the forum, WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan said, “Humanity needs the principles of peace, solidarity, respect, and tradition, which the World Ethnosport Confederation has and built on its fields of activity, more and more with each passing day.”

Excitement of the Ethnosport Forum in Baku

The 5th Ethnosport Forum, which was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on 5-6 March this year, hosted 140 participants from 45 countries with the theme “Reviving Traditional Sports”. The forum started with the opening speeches and was carried out with panels, sessions, and various events where the future of traditional sports was discussed.

High Level Participation Procured

The forum was attended by the sports ministers of Azerbaijan, Gambia, Niger, Mexico, Turkey, the deputy ministers of sports of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and with high-level participation from many countries.

Joint Statement Signed

A joint statement was signed with the participation of the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Ferid Gayıbov, Minister of Youth and Sports of Turkey Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Minister of Sports of Nigeria Adamou Sekou, National Minister of Physical Culture and Sport of Mexico Ana Gabriela Guevara Espinoza, Minister of Sports of Gambia Bakary Y. Badjie, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkish States Baghdad Amreyev.

Future of Traditional Sports Were Discussed

After the opening speeches on the first day of the forum, High-Level Ministerial Panel was held, and was moderated by WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan. In the panel, evaluations were made about the present and future of traditional sports. Simultaneously, it was discussed by experts in the field of future projection of traditional sports in 3 different sessions.

Communication Panel Occured

The second day of the 5th Ethnospor Forum started with the communication panel. In the panel, communication strategies of traditional sports were discussed by the participants from 5 countries, and they expressed their views on applicable communication and media strategies for traditional sports.

Declaration Announced

The declaration, which compiled the topics discussed in the panels and sessions of the forum, to which 140 participants from 45 countries contributed for two days, was announced to the whole world on the second day of the Ethnospor Forum.

Traditional Sports Awards Found Their Owners

The 4th of the Traditional Sports Awards, organized by the World Ethnosports Confederation every year to honor the institutions, organizations and athletes that contribute to traditional sports and games around the world, was held in Baku. In the awards covering 7 categories, the Leadership Award was presented this year by WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Traditional Sports Organization Award to the International Belt Wrestling Federation, and the Academician Award to Prof. Dr. Pere Levega Burgues, Traditional Athlete Award to Bautista Risso, Young Athlete Award to Ngor Niakh, International Sponsor Award to Ziraat Bank and Communication Award to TRT SPOR Yıldız.

Thanks from WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan

WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan thanked all the participants who came together for two days and showed great solidarity for the reviving traditional sports and devoted themselves to make the forum productive in his evaluation speech at the end of the forum. The forum ended with the Çevgan show organized for the participants by the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, one of the institutional members of the World Ethnosports Confederation. Erdoğan also expressed his gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Minister of Youth and Sports Ferid Gayibov for their hospitality and support in Baku.

07 Jan 2022

The 5th Ethnosport Forum Will Be Held in Baku on March 5-6

Maintaining its efforts to popularize and increase awareness of traditional sports and games, the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC) is organizing the 5th Ethnosport Forum under the motto of “The Reviving Traditional Sports.” Participants from all over the world will participate in the Forum, which will take place on March 5-6, 2022 in Baku, Azerbaijan .

The World Ethnosport Confederation has kept up its nonstop efforts to have traditional sports and games become current and cherished all over the world and to increase awareness of them. Thanks to organizations having materialized around the unifying strength of traditional sports and games that have humanity’s common values, many cultures that were left in the dusty pages of history have come to life through Ethnosport activities.

Aiming to contribute to humanity around four principles with the universal values of tradition, respect, solidarity, and peace, the World Ethnosport Confederation will hold the 5th Ethnosport Forum, where participants from all over the world will be involved. The forum will determine strategies aimed at reviving traditional sports and games by laying the short-, medium-, and long-term objectives of traditional sports and games on the table.

In addition to state officials, federation representatives, and academicians from over 60 countries, 20 institutional member representatives who maintain activities under WEC will also attend the forum that will take place in Baku. The Ethnosport Forum will last two days and be among the world’s most innovative efforts in terms of participant diversity.

19 Apr 2021

The 4th Ethnosport Forum Was Held in a Hybrid Format

The 4th Ethnosport Forum, organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC) with the theme ‘’Reviving Traditional Sports,” was held in a hybrid format on April 10 due to the global pandemic.


Nearly 300 participants from 61 countries participated online in the forum; A panel was also held under the chairmanship of WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan and the participation of ministers of youth and sports from six countries.

The Ethnosport Forum Was Held in a Hybrid Format This Year
Organized for the 4th time this year, the Ethnosport Forum was held in a hybrid format on April 10 due to the global pandemic.
The forum, which participants followed from a digital platform specially prepared for them, attracted great attention. 
In addition to WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Gambia’s Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badji, Qatar’s Culture and Sports Minister Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Mali’s Youth and Sports Minister Mossa Ag Attaher,  Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia Vanja Udovičić, Somali’s Youth and Sports Minister Hamza Said Hamza, and Turkey’s Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, close to 300 people from 61 countries attended the forum, in which President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated by way of a video message.
United Nations Deputy Secretary General Maimunah Mohd Sharif attended the Forum with a live link, while Polish Minister of Sports and Tourism Anna Krupka and UNESCO Deputy Director of Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos also got involved with their video messages.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “Traditional Values and Sports Will Come into Prominence”
Participating in the 4th Ethnosport Forum via video message, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the impact the epidemic has had on societies and stated, “Through the pandemic, we have seen the importance of not only health and healthy living but also of solidarity, sharing, and traditional values.
The dominant mentality that glorifies individuality, ignores spirituality, and despises traditional values has deepened the problems caused by the epidemic.
In the world that will be reshaped post-pandemic, I believe that traditional sports and the culture and values represented by these sports will come into greater prominence.”
Referring to the importance of the forum, Erdogan said, “The discussions to be held within the scope of this important forum through the participation of more than 60 countries will support and guide us in our struggle to keep alive traditional sport branches in the world and the culture and values these sports represent.”

WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan: “The Ethnosport Forum Strengthens Our Bonds”
Emphasizing the 4th Ethnosport Forum’s strengthening of intercultural bonds, WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan said, “Reviving cultural values is a powerful step for carrying the societies we live within forward.
As the World Ethnosport Confederation, our aim is not only to preserve traditional sports, but also to preserve traditions such as the music and crafts around these cultures.
In this regard, the Ethnosport Forum is an opportunity to strengthen our bonds. We must use our talents and energy to unite around traditional sports.”

Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu: “We Must Keep Our Cultural Heritage Alive”
Emphasizing the important position the 4th Ethnosport Forum has in keeping cultural heritage alive, Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu said, “We should convey our cultural heritage to our young people by experiencing and keeping it alive.
As the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are increasing our efforts night and day toward the reviving traditional sports and support the efforts done in this field. We believe the Ethnosport Forum has an important place in keeping our cultural heritage alive.”

The Panel was Held with the Participation of Ministers from 6 Countries
At the forum, Ministers from Gambia, Qatar, Mali, Serbia, Somalia and Turkey participated in the Forum interested in the panel, in which WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan chaired the session, presented their contributions on the topic “A New Source of Motivation for Youths during COVID-19 and Beyond: Traditional Sports and Games.”

Joint Ministerial Statement has been Signed
 At the forum, WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Gambia’s Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Y. Badjie, Qatar’s Culture and Sports Minister Salah bin Ghanem al Ali, and Youth and Sports Minister of the Republic of Serbia Vanja Udovičić signed the joint declaration for the reviving traditional sports.

Participation from All Around the World
Held online, the panel was attended by ministers, government officials, federation representatives, and academicians from 61 countries. Throughout the forum, experts in their fields made important contributions to the future of traditional sports.
Participants followed the 4th Ethnosport Forum in 6 different languages on a digital platform dedicated to them.
The event hosted an exemplary meeting during the pandemic in terms of its efficiency and participant diversity in the digital environment.

The Forum’s Carbon Footprint Has Been Offset
Taking action for a sustainable world in order to complete the mission of “Reviving Traditional Sports,” the World Ethnosport Confederation has offset the carbon footprint of the 4th Ethnosport Forum with its vision of respect for nature and the environment.

19 Apr 2021

Joint Ministerial Statement was signed at the 4th Ethnosport Forum

The 4th Ethnosport Forum, organized annually by the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC) with the theme “Reviving Traditional Sports,” was held online on April 10th due to the global epidemic. Nearly 300 participants from 61 countries followed the Forum in 6 different languages on digital platforms dedicated to them. The event hosted an exemplary meeting in the digital environment in terms of efficiency and participant diversity.


Gambia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Y. Badjie, Qatar’s Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem al Ali, and Minister of the Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia Vanja Udovičić along with WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan signed the Joint Ministerial Statement for the national and international development, support, and popularization of Traditional Sports.

31 Mar 2021

4th Ethnosport Forum Will Be Held in a Hybrid Format on April 10

Continuing its activities for popularizing and increasing the awareness of traditional sports and games, the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC) is organizing the 4th Ethnosport Forum under the motto “The Revival of Traditional Sports.” The Forum will take place online on April 10, 2021 with participants from all over the world.

From its establishment onwards, the World Ethnosport Confederation has maintained its non-stop efforts to have traditional sports and games become current, to have them survive, and to increase awareness of them throughout the world. Many cultures that have remained stuck in the dusty pages of history have come to life through Ethnosport events thanks to the events that have been carried out around the unifying power of traditional sports and games, the sports and games wherein the common values of humanity are found. 

Aiming to contribute to humanity around the four principles of tradition, respect, solidarity, and peace, which have universal worth, the World Ethnosport Confederation will organize the 4th Ethnosport Forum, in which participants from all over the world will take part. The short-, medium-, and long-term goals of traditional sports and games will be discussed at the forum, as well as determining the strategies for reviving these cultures.

The forum will be held online and attended by state officials, federation representatives, and academicians from more than 60 countries, as well as by 19 corporate member representatives who have maintained their activities in connection to WEC. The Honorable Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and World Ethnosport Confederation President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan will give the opening speeches at the Ethnosport Forum, which is being held for the fourth time. Participants will be able to monitor the Forum in six different languages on digital stages that have been specially prepared for them. The Ethnosport Forum, which will last for one day, will take its place among pioneering works in the world in terms of participant diversity.
 

23 Feb 2020

2nd International Traditional Sports Awards Were Presented

The 2nd “Traditional Sports” award ceremony has been held to honor persons and organizations that support the promotion, development and sustainment of traditional sports, and to proclaim their work to all nations of the world. The first of which has been held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Awards has been presented in following six categories: Academician, Veteran Athlete, Young Athlete, Statesman, International Sponsorship and Traditional Sports Organization.


The awards were presented in the company of WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, by attending sports ministers and WEC Vice-President Hakan Kazancı. In the academician category, the award went to Kyrgyrzstan Manas University lecturer Prof. Dr. Mehmet Türkmen who received his award from WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan. In his thanks speech Türkmen summarized his studies and thanked the World Ethnosports Confederation for their encouragements in this field. The Veteran Athlete award winner Kassai Lovasijaszat received his award from Ivory Coast Youth and Sports Minister Paulin Claude Danho; while the Young Athlete award went to Chevgan player Shamil Islamov from Azerbaijan, who received his award from Pakistan Federal States Coordination Minister Fehmida Mirza. The fourth and last individual category “Statesman” award went to Gymnastics and Sports Minister Innokentiy Grigoriev from Yakutsk, Russia, who received his award from WEC Vice-President and President of Traditional Sports Federation Hakan Kazancı. The award from institutional category “Traditional Sports Organization” went to Mounted Archery Federation of Japan. The award was received on behalf of the federation by its 82 years old president Sakamoto Kazuhiro. He received the award from Gambia Youth and Sports Minister Hadrammeh Sidibeh. The sixth and the last category “International Sponsorship” award went to Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). Mali Youth and Sports Minister Arouna Modibo Toure has presented the award to Upur Tanyeli who has been in attendance on behalf of TİKA.

23 Feb 2020

3rd International Ethnosport Forum Has Been Concluded

The third forum was conveined in Antalya under the theme of “Revival of Traditional Sports”, and concluded after two days of busy schedule with the publication of the Forum’s Final Declaration.

The forum, which has had 200 participants; including ministers, government officials, federation delegates, and academics from 49 countries met up between 22nd – 23rd of February to shed light on the future of traditional sports and contributed with valuable insights had drawn great attention.

The forum; organized by Word Ethnosport Confederation under the presidency of Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, held joint studies for the future of traditional sports and games of many countries. Many topics that will contribute to “Revival of Traditional Sports” were discussed in various panels and sessions.

In the opening statement delivered at the first day of the Forum, WEC president Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan welcomed guests from different parts of the world. In the opening programme Youth and Sports Minister Mr. Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, the Governor of Antalya Mr. Münir Karaloğlu, and sports and youth ministers from attending countries delivered speeches. At the forum, Youth and Sports Ministers from 8 countries, together with World Ethnosport Confederations President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, had signed a “joint declaration”. The first day, then, had proceeded with panels. At the end of the forum, WEC President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan had stated and underlined the crucial role played by traditional sports in respecting other cultures and international dialogue. The forumconcluded after publishing the final declaration; followed by certificate ceremony held in honour of attendees, and closing speeches.

This Year the International Ethnosports Forum was Held in Turkiye.
The first International Ethnosports Forum was held in 2018 at Antalya, the second in 2019 at Almaty, Kazakhstan. The third forum held this year between 22nd and 23rd of February in Antalya, Turkiye.
Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan: “We would like to draw attention to the cultural richness of the entire world.”
In the opening statement, WEC president Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan welcomed guests from different parts of the world: “In an age where everything is getting monotonous and uniform, and values are set to be lost; we have to discover and maintain our roots, and to regreen from those. Because this is the only way we can ensure a world where each society sprout and live with their unique colors.”
Together with WEC; Youth and Sports Ministers from 8 Countries Signed the Traditional Sports Antalya Declaration
At the forum, Youth and Sports Ministers from 8 countries, together with World Ethnosport Confederations President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, had signed a “joint declaration” to ensure development, support and popularisation of “traditional sports” in national and international levels. This declaration will go down in history as “Traditional Sports Antalya Declaration”.

The Final Declaration for the 3rd International Ethnosports Forum
“2020 Traditional Sports Antalya Declaration” has been announced. In the declaration, participants reached a consensus on agendas: governments’ role in strengthening and preserving traditional sports; steering the youth towards traditional sports, and developing their skills through them; cooperation between universities, federations and clubs; as well as discussed their views, ideas and problems under the theme “Revival of Traditional Sports”. After the gathering and discussion 3. International Ethnosport Forum final declaration has been anounced and published. The Forum has been concluded after declaring that the next one will be held in 2021 at Baku, Azerbaijan.

22 Feb 2020

“International Ethnosport Forum” has Begun

 

The International Ethnosport Forum, organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation, has begun with the opening ceremony. The third forum will be convened between 22-23 of February 2020 in Antalya. Accompanied by the Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoğlu, World Ethnosport Confederation President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, and Antalya Governor Münir Karaloğlu, 200 participants; including ministers, government officials, fedration delegates, and academics from 49 countries met up in for the 3. International Ethnosport Forum conveined under the theme “Revival of Traditional Sports”.

In the forum’s opening statement, the President of World Ethnosport Confederation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan said: “We deem traditonal sports not only as a game, a physical activity or a competition; but we see them as means to develop, build a character, and attain a higher level of mindfullness. We would also like to share the good news that the fourth International Ethnosport Forum will be held next year in Baku, Azerbaijan.”

The forum started with WEC president Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan’s opening statement and continued with speeches delviered by Youth and Sports Minister Mr. Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, the Governor of Antalya Mr. Münir Karaloğlu, and Sports and Youth Ministers of Jordan, Mali, Ivory Coast, Somalia and Palestine. Together with WEC; Youth and Sports Ministers from 8 Countries Signed the Traditional Sports Antalya Declaration

Ideas were exchanged regarding the future of traditional sports in the panel moderated by the President of World Ethnosport Confederation Bilal Erdoğan following opening speeches. Together with the President of World Ethnosport Confederations Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Youth and Sports Ministers from 8 countries; including Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Ivory Coast, Mali, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, and Uzbekistan had signed a “joint declaration” to ensure development, support and popularisation of “traditional sports” in national and international levels. This declaration will go down in history as “Traditional Sports Antalya Declaration”.

4. International Ethnosport Forum will be Convened Next Year in Baku
In the forum, the president of World Ethnosport Confederation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan had underlined the importance of works in local and global levels for the revival of traditional sports, and said: “We held the first of these forums in Antalya in 2018 and the second in 2019 with a great attendance in Kazakhstan. I would like to, once again, offer my thanks to Kazakhstani authorities who had hosted us. Today we are excited to be hosting over 200 participants, representing 49 countries from all corners of the world. Furthermore we would also like to share the good news that the fourth International Ethnosport Forum will be held next year in Baku, Azerbaijan.”

Erdoğan: “We are here to discuss the obstacles to the progress and the popularization of traditional sports. We must exchange ideas, and we must do so globally. We are here, enacting a platform of collective action, cooperation and consultation. We hope to reach our mid and long term aims with regards to traditional sports and games. I hope that this activity bolsters our unity and solidarity and fellowship.”

We See the Traditional Sports as a Way to Attain a Higher Level of Mindfullness Erdoğan: ”We believe the traditional sports to be richer in credence and to have a lot more philosophical depth to them, compared to olympic sports. We deem sports not only as games, physical activities or  competition; but we see them as means to develop, build a character, and attain a higher level of mindfullness.

Youth and Sports Minister M. Muharrem Kasapoğlu Attended the Forum
Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu was also attending the forum, he stated that: “Our youth will build a future to be proud of if we help them make peace with their values and provide them with the opportunity to grow with the support of their traditions in the correct cultural foundation. Turkiye is here to support traditional sports with every means available, and will continue to do so. We find every action taken to protect traditional values valuable.” And continued: “We prioritised building sportive facilities. We are of the opinion that there are no equalsaround the world to the sportive progress we have carried out in the last 18 years, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In his opening statement, the governor of Antalya Münir Karaloğlu stated: “We look to continue our support for traditional sports with the traditional Elmalılı Oiled Wrestling, which has been organized for 666 years.