Antalya: The 8th Ethnosport Forum commenced in Antalya, focusing on the vision for Ethnosports 2027, a global sporting event aimed at uniting traditional athletes worldwide under a single competitive platform. The forum, organized by the World Ethnosport Union, seeks to outline the future of traditional sports and cultural heritage preservation. Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, head of the World Ethnosport Union, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the institutionalization and international recognition of traditional sports.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan highlighted the forum's evolution into a global consultation and governance space, stressing the need for tangible outcomes. He described Ethnosports 2027 as the most concrete and comprehensive outcome of these forums, envisioning a global platform with structured rules and an institutional framework for traditional sports. Erdogan noted that this initiative marks a new era, aiming for global recognition and respect for traditional disciplines.
Erdogan also addressed the humanitarian situations in Gaza and Iran, advocating for peace and dialogue. He expressed the World Ethnosport Union's mission to create a platform where every culture finds its place, emphasizing peace as the common language. Osman Askin Bak, Turkiye's youth and sports minister, echoed these sentiments, highlighting Turkiye's role in promoting peace and stability globally.
Bak stated that Ethnosports 2027 is a historic opportunity for ethnosports, emphasizing the forum's role in enriching preparation processes and sustainable management models. He noted the importance of building a fair competitive environment and developing global marketing strategies. Farid Gayibov, Azerbaijan's youth and sports minister, also recognized the forum's significance in making traditional sports more visible internationally.
The forum, featuring over 100 high-level state officials and international delegations, focuses on sustainability in ethnosports, intercultural interaction, and strengthening international cooperation. Discussions include strategies for financial sustainability, media planning, and making traditional sports awards more accessible. Experts are assessing the vision and organizational structure of Ethnosports 2027, aiming to institutionalize traditional sports as a global brand. Organizers believe the forum will shape the future of traditional sports and lay the groundwork for Ethnosports 2027.