Sport24.az
The Ethnosports Forum, organized for the eighth time this year with the aim of preserving traditional sports and cultural heritage and passing them on to future generations, opened its doors in Antalya. Sport24.az reports that the first day of the forum, which brings together the international sports community, government representatives and cultural heritage ambassadors, began with a presentation by Mustafa Eröğüt, a member of the Board of Directors of the World Ethnosport Confederation (WEU), on the topic of "The Global Impact of Multifaceted Sports Events – The "Ethnosports 2027" Framework."
Subsequently, at the opening speeches and the High-Level Ministerial Panel, the organization of traditional sports and strong "peace" messages against the backdrop of humanitarian crises around the world were brought to the forefront as the main theme.
President of the World Ethnosport Confederation Bilal Erdoğan: "Our common language should be peace"
Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, in his speech as the president of the World Ethnosport Confederation, emphasized that the forum has transformed over the years from an idea platform into a global consultation and management space. He stated that it is time to move from the stage of words to the stage of practical steps and announced the "Ethnosports 2027" vision, in which traditional sports will be raised to international standards.
Touching upon regional and global crises, Bilal Erdoğan drew attention to the unifying power of sports and cultural values and appealed to the world as follows: he stated that a world where children face war, fear and hunger instead of games is unacceptable, and that goals for the future should be built on dialogue, not conflict.
"From this day forward, our common language must be peace," he noted.
Osman Aşkın Bak: "Ethnosports is a strategic shield that protects our youth"
Osman Aşkın Bak, in his speech as the head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey, stated that Turkey continues its initiatives to ensure a lasting ceasefire and peace in the region and in the world.
The Minister assessed ethnosports as a strategic area at the intersection of sports, education and youth policy. He emphasized that the most powerful tool against modern risks such as addiction, isolation and identity search is to unite young people with rooted values. The Minister also noted that this heritage is conveyed to tens of thousands of young people through youth camps, the number of games included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage is increasing, and the "Encyclopedia of Traditional Sports and Games" project is being implemented together with the WEU.
International solidarity and common identity messages
Speaking at the opening program, Farid Gayibov, as the head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, stated that preserving traditions means building the future, and different cultures unite around common values to create lasting friendships.
The Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, emphasized that traditional sports are not only physical activity, but also a living expression of the identity of peoples related to common language and culture.
Main topic in the Ministerial Panel: "Ethnosports 2027"
The main topic of discussion at the High-Level Ministerial Panel was the "Ethnosports 2027" vision:
Yerbol Mirzabossinov – Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan: He stated that traditional sports are valued at the same level as the Olympic Games.
Urmat Asanbaev – Kyrgyzstan State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports: He said that this platform creates an important basis for international cooperation and cultural exchange in 2027.
Mikhail Degtyarev – Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation: He emphasized that "Ethnosports 2027" can be a multifaceted platform that combines not only sports, but also business, culture and education.
Nayif Salih Al-Bakri – Yemeni Minister of Youth and Sports: He stated that they are determined to preserve cultural diversity and pass it on to future generations.
At the end of the panel, Bilal Erdoğan noted that this vision has already entered the practical stage, and announced that cooperation with participating countries will be further expanded and preparations for the next ethnosport events have begun.
The 8th Ethnosports Forum ended in Antalya with discussions, information exchange sessions and bilateral meetings held towards the "Ethnosports 2027" goals.
