Turkey: Finals loom in ancient oil wrestling festival

EDIRNE, Turkey

Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival in Turkey’s westernmost extremity is set for a final day of competitions after an exciting Day 2 that saw an old champion fall to last year’s title holder.

The annual tournament, which started Friday in Edirne province neighboring Greece, is the oldest sanctioned sporting competition in the world, held in the same province since 1362.

The festival's opening ceremony began with a moment of silence and the Turkish national anthem.

Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Sahin, chieftain of the Kirkpinar tournament Seyfettin Selim, Edirne Mayor Recep Gurkan, and President of Turkey’s Wrestling Federation, Musa Aydin attended Friday's ceremony.

Edirne mayor Gurkan said that this year a total of 1923 wrestlers were registered with the event.

"This was a record," Gurkan said.

Saturday’s matchups reduced the number of finalists to 8 from an initial 54 after Friday saw junior wrestlers take to the grass.

The tournament is touted as one of the oldest sports organizations, this year marking the 654th event. It hosts thousands as spectators from Turkey and around the world, who come to watch oil wrestlers that continue to honor an ancient tradition.

Former champion Mehmet Yesil Yesil, who won in 2009 and 2010 before succumbing to current title-holder Fatih Atli, fell to the reigning champion once again Saturday in the first round, in what Yesil described as an “early final”.

Ahead of the fight, Atli said it was “history repeating itself”:

“I beat him at a time when it was thought he was going to be the eternal holder of the title,” he said. “Now it is mine. Let’s see what happens. I believe it will be a good spectacle. I will do everything to win.”

A wrestler who holds the title for three consecutive years is awarded the golden belt -- which typically changes hands every year -- as a token of his domination in the sport.

This year’s event saw an unusual entry -- a convict serving time in prison for causing bodily injury. 24-year-old Hasan Borucu was given special permission by the Ministry of Justice to compete this year. He was beaten in the first round.

Wrestling Foundation President Aydin said that Turkish people protected the Kirkpinar oil wrestling tradition.

"Wherever there is oil wrestling, in any village, any town or district, our audiences have arrived in excitement," he told reporters in Edirne province.

He also talked about the World Wrestling Championships, which will be held in the U.S. city of Las Vegas.

The preparations for the international event are continuing, Aydin said.

"We are doing our part; we will continue to work. I believe we will succeed," he added.

Meanwhile, dozens of people coming from various parts of Turkey to see the festival slept in the garden of Selimiye Mosque and parks as they could not find places in hotels.

"It is not important for us where we slept; keeping alive culture is what is important," Mustafa Ayan, from Balikesir, told Anadolu Agency.