Antalya: World Ethnosport Union President Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan on Saturday expressed hope that "sports would once again serve as a tool and platform for peace, dialogue, and cooperation," during the 8th Ethnosport Forum, alongside the sports ministers of Iran and Yemen. Under the 8th Ethnosport Forum, a High-Level Ministerial Panel was held in Antalya, a city on the Mediterranean coast in southern Trkiye, with Anadolu as the global communication partner of the forum.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan moderated the forum and highlighted the growing global interest in traditional sports. He mentioned that they would soon announce the venue for the forum's next edition in 2027. He emphasized the significance of having ministers from countries affected by wars, such as Yemen and Iran, present at the event. Erdogan expressed optimism about sports' potential to serve as a tool for peace, diplomacy, cooperation, and mutual understanding.
Yemen's Minister of Youth and Sports, Nayef Saleh al-Bakri, spoke about the role of traditional sports in civilizations and the importance of seeking peace. He stressed that bringing together various countries in the 2027 activities could be a crucial turning point for achieving peace. Al-Bakri, representing a country in conflict, emphasized the need for world unity and peace, and the potential of Ethnosport to contribute to this goal.
Russian Federation Minister of Sport, Michael Degtyarev, shared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has prioritized traditional sports. Russia has identified nine national sports and is forming national teams for Ethnosport 2027. Kazakhstan's Minister of Tourism and Sport, Yerbol Myrzabossynov, reiterated their active support for the Ethnosport Forum.
Kyrgyzstan's Director of Culture and Sport, Urmat Asanbaev, highlighted the significance of hosting the Nomad Games and the role of traditional sports in preserving cultural values. The event is set to run until Sunday afternoon, gathering over 100 high-level state officials, including more than 15 ministers of sports and culture, alongside international delegations and traditional sports athletes from 29 countries.
Serving as the global communication partner, Anadolu has supported the forum, which focuses on strategic issues related to sustainability in ethnosports. The forum aims to strengthen international cooperation, emphasizing values such as tradition, solidarity, respect, and peace. Since its inception, the union has worked to preserve traditional sports and games, promote intercultural interaction, and raise awareness in the field.
The forum's discussions cover international cooperation, financial sustainability, and media strategies. A significant topic is the planned Ethnosports 2027 event, with experts assessing its vision and organizational structure. 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 believe the forum's sessions will shape the future of traditional sports and serve as a foundation for Ethnosports 2027. This global sporting event aims to institutionalize traditional sports and games worldwide, establishing them as a global brand. Throughout the forum, operational processes from preparation to implementation strategies are discussed in detail.