8th Ethnosport Forum concludes with assessment of vision for planned 2027 event

ANTALYA

The calendar and vision for next year’s Ethnosports 2027, an Olympics for traditional sports worldwide, have been laid out for the landmark event, the head of the World Ethnosport Union said Sunday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 8th Ethnosport Forum in the Turkish Riviera city of Antalya, Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan said: "We have successfully concluded another Ethnosport Forum, marked by its productivity and inspiring vision."

"We are pleased to observe that all sessions, where we came together to plan for Ethnosports 2027, have generated meaningful outcomes. Witnessing your enthusiasm and determination has been a great source of strength for us. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you, our esteemed participants, who carry the responsibility of shaping the future of traditional sports," said Erdogan.

Ethnosports 2027 will be a massive global sporting event designed to bring together traditional athletes from across the world on a single competitive platform.

"The transformation of the goals we set at each gathering into tangible outcomes gives us great hope. I firmly believe that a stronger future awaits traditional sports. The collective will we have demonstrated under the Ethnosports 2027 vision shows that the steps we are taking are growing into a deeply rooted plane tree," he said.

"There is a place for all of us under the shade of this tree. With a spirit of respect, peace, and solidarity, we can preserve and sustain our traditions. However, in the days ahead, we must move beyond preservation and enter a phase of stronger momentum. We must make the achievements of traditional sports heard more powerfully across the world. We should ensure that our children are introduced to at least one traditional sport, facilitate greater access for our youth, and raise athletes who will serve as role models in their respective disciplines. Each of us bears significant responsibilities," he said.

"I hope our journey to Ethnosports 2027 will bring great benefits, and I would be delighted to welcome you once again to the 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival, set to be held in Istanbul on May 21–24," he added.

Preparations for Ethnosports 2027

The two-day event brought together more than 100 high-level state officials, including over 15 sports and culture ministers, alongside international delegations, representatives from World Ethnosport Union member federations, academics, and traditional sports athletes from 29 countries.

Serving as the global communication partner, Anadolu has supported the forum, which focused on strategic issues related to the sustainability of ethnosports.

The forum focused on sustainability in ethnosports and strengthening international cooperation, emphasizing values such as tradition, solidarity, respect, and peace.

The forum drew representatives from 50 institutional members across 29 countries affiliated with the World Ethnosport Union, along with government officials, federation representatives, academics, and researchers.

Organizers said the forum’s sessions and discussions helped shape the future of traditional sports and serve as a starting point for preparations for Ethnosports 2027.

A key topic was the planned 2027, with experts set to assess its vision, organizational structure, international participation strategies, sponsorship models, and media planning.

Ethnosports 2027 is a massive global sporting event designed to bring traditional athletes from across the world together on a single competitive platform. This visionary project seeks to institutionalize traditional sports and games according to international standards, establishing them as a global brand.

During the forum, all operational processes from the preparation phase to implementation strategies were discussed in detail.