7. Etnospor Culture Festival (2025)

The 7th Etnospor Culture Festival is an international cultural event that brings together traditional sports, arts, and cultural heritage activities. It was held for the seventh time by the World Etnospor Union from 22 to 25 May 2025 at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

_{7th Etnospor Culture Festival Event Area, 22 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

The 7th Etnospor Culture Festival was organized by the World Etnospor Union from 22 to 25 May 2025 at Istanbul Atatürk Airport. The fourth edition of the festival was structured around the theme “Tradition Begins in the Family,” in line with 2025 being declared the “Year of the Family.” The event was designed to be open to participants of all ages, and all activities held within the festival grounds were offered free of charge to the public.

The festival schedule varied by day of the week. Weekday programs ran from 10:00 to 19:00, while weekend visiting hours were extended to 11:00 to 20:00. Visitors could access the site via public transportation or private vehicles. Attendees arriving by metro on the M1A line could reach the Atatürk Airport station and then transfer to ring shuttle services to the event area; Marmaray users could disembark at Yeşilyurt station and walk the 10-minute distance to the festival grounds. Four parking areas were provided for private vehicle users, with shuttle services connecting the parking zones to the event area.

The festival featured multiple activity zones under numerous thematic headings, including traditional sports and games, traditional arts, stage performances, gastronomy displays, children’s programs, and social responsibility initiatives. Representing a total of 35 countries, the festival enabled visitors to discover diverse cultures, experience traditional games and arts, participate in workshops, and attend various performances.

_{A musician at the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 25 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

Special programs compliant with accessibility standards were developed for children and individuals with disabilities. These included a mangala tournament for visually impaired participants, hippotherapy activities, children’s art workshops, and traditional children’s games.

The festival was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in front of Han Çadır, attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, and President of the World Etnospor Union Bilal Erdoğan.

This year, for the first time, a dedicated area called the “Family Village” was established as part of the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival. Designed in alignment with 2025 being declared the “Year of the Family,” the Family Village centered on the theme “Tradition Begins in the Family” and served as the focal point for programs aimed at transmitting cultural heritage across generations.

The Family Village hosted traditional game areas, cultural workshops, and stage performances designed for families to spend time together. Workshops were organized for both children and parents, featuring traditional crafts, storytelling, joint activities, and guidance content. Interactive programs were also introduced to strengthen parent-child relationships. Activities for children included traditional games, skill-building crafts, and storytelling sessions. For parents, content focused on family communication, cultural awareness, and educational seminars.

As part of the Etnospor Culture Festival, extensive exhibitions and hands-on activities were organized around traditional arts, handicrafts, and cultural products. Stalls within the festival grounds were managed by master artisans, designers, and local producers from various regions. Visitors were introduced to contemporary interpretations and production processes of cultural heritage through these exhibits.

_{7th Etnospor Culture Festival Site Layout Plan –} Etnospor Culture Festival

In the field of handicrafts, notable examples included mother-of-pearl inlay, jewelry design, fabric weaving, regional costume design, kilim motifs, and natural soap production. Master mother-of-pearl artisan Şevket Hakan Üç demonstrated traditional techniques to introduce the craft to younger generations. Ayşe Taşpınar, an instructor from Şile Community Education Center, presented the Şile cloth weaving process through live demonstrations on a loom. Participants were shown traditional production stages, such as the natural processing of yarns and their washing in seawater followed by drying on sand.

At the International Siirt Promotion History Association booth, which showcased cultural elements from Siirt, a collection designed by designer and academician Aycan Öktem was displayed. Products at the booth featured motifs from Siirt kilims, patterns inspired by Ibrahim Hakkı’s sun incident, and symbols derived from tomb mallets. Approximately 250 items from this collection were exhibited. Additionally, representatives from Eruh Municipality introduced local products such as Zivzik pomegranate, bıttım soap, and şal şepik fabric.

During the festival, practical workshops were organized to teach traditional production techniques to children. In these workshops, activities included traditional pattern painting, decoration using natural materials, shaping with clay, and production guided by oral storytelling. These activities for children and youth focused on developing manual skills.

In the performing arts section, traditional music performances and folk dances were presented. The festival program featured music and dance performances by teams from various countries. These presentations continued throughout the day on the festival stage, offering an opportunity to represent traditional cultures through their musical and ritual forms.

Traditional sports and games were one of the central elements of the Etnospor Culture Festival. Events were held at equestrian arenas and open game areas established at Atatürk Airport. Participants had the opportunity to experience traditional sports under the guidance of professional instructors. Activities included archery, horseback archery, wrestling, traditional children’s games, mangala, and equestrian acrobatics.

At the equestrian sports area, the Georgian horseback game Tskhenburti was presented in demonstration format. Two teams of six players each, dressed in traditional Akhalukhi attire, competed using wooden paddles and a rubber ball. Matches were played in two halves, with the objective being to deliver the ball into the opponent’s goal, called “maka.” Players were allowed to strike, catch, and pass the ball using their paddles.

Wrestling events featured traditional Kazakh wrestling competitions and examples of Turkey’s unique oil wrestling. Medals and certificates were awarded to top-ranking athletes during the festival’s closing ceremony. Wrestling matches were organized in both individual and team formats.

_{Azerbaijan-Karabakh Equestrian Dance Team performing at the event, 23 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

Equestrian archery demonstrations were presented as one of the practical examples of traditional warfare arts in the festival program. Horse archers from Türkiye and Central Asian countries executed target shots while riding at high speed. Throughout the festival, synchronized mounted maneuvers, acrobatic movements, and equestrian games were also performed.

Accessible game areas were created for children and disadvantaged groups. A mangala tournament was organized for visually impaired participants, hippotherapy activities were conducted, and various traditional children’s games continued throughout the festival. These game areas were designed to enable children and youth to participate in physical activities.

_{Etnospor Culture Festival Event Area, 22 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

The 7th Etnospor Culture Festival was held at an international level with participation from representatives of approximately 35 countries. Elements from different nations and cultures were presented through both stage performances and information booths. Participating countries were represented by a variety of cultural elements including traditional coffees, handicrafts, clothing, music, and performing arts.

As part of an event organized under the auspices of the Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), young people from six different countries offered visitors traditional coffees from their own cultures. The event featured coffee varieties from Türkiye, Palestine, Colombia, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants introduced the coffee preparation methods of their countries and demonstrated traditional serving customs.

_{Iraq coffee stand, 25 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

At the Palestine stand, local menengiç coffee and traditional brewing methods were presented. At the Colombia stand, Colombian coffee made from hard coffee beans grown in mountainous regions was served. At the Iraq stand, menengiç coffee consumed in the northern regions and the bitter coffee varieties prevalent in central and southern areas were introduced. At the Bosnia stand, Bosnian coffee, similar to Turkish coffee but with a smoother taste, was offered. Alongside Ethiopian coffee, various presentation techniques were demonstrated to visitors.

On the festival’s stage program, the music group “Highlife Band,” founded by university students of African origin, performed. The group, composed of students from Ghana, Kenya, Congo, and Nigeria, presented a repertoire blending African rhythms with jazz, reggae, and funk. Their live performances included Turkish songs and pieces sung in various languages.

The repertoire of Highlife Band featured the Turkish folk song “Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım” by Aşık Veysel, performed in an ethnic music style. Members of Highlife Band have performed at various events with the support of the Directorate General of Migration Management, and their participation in the festival was organized through the African Culture House.

The thematic area created under the name “Solidarity Village” during the festival was designed to honor the children of Gaza who lost their lives in Israeli attacks. In this section, various objects and symbolic elements representing the children were exhibited. The Solidarity Village hosted social responsibility initiatives expressing solidarity with Gaza within the festival grounds.

_{7th Etnospor Culture Festival: Children killed in Gaza are commemorated, 22 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

At the entrance of the area, panels featuring watermelon patterns representing the map of Palestine and a thematic layout were displayed. Panels containing visual materials related to Gaza were presented to visitors. In the section where toys belonging to children were symbolically exhibited, it was noted that the 2024 arrangement made with shoes had been reconfigured in 2025 using toys. This area also included an art exhibition and photo panels.

A sound simulation system was installed inside a tent, creating an environment accompanied by explosion and screaming sounds to allow visitors to experience the living conditions in Gaza. In the photo exhibition section, representative visuals and information panels related to children who lost their lives in the attacks were displayed.

In another section of the area, a press vest stained with blood was exhibited to honor journalists killed in Israeli attacks. In this section, a boycott guide prepared in support of Palestine was distributed. Oil paintings with Palestinian themes were also sold at the Solidarity Village, with proceeds planned to be directed toward Gaza.

At the festival, various awareness campaigns were conducted to promote environmental consciousness. In this context, the Zero Waste Foundation established a special booth within the festival grounds. At this booth, eco-friendly production processes were introduced to young people and children, and sustainability-based workshops were organized.

_{Workshop organized by the Zero Waste Foundation at the festival, 23 May 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

Activities at the booth included practical initiatives such as producing watercolor paint from plant waste, designing textiles from fabric scraps, batik dyeing using tea plants, and producing fibers from plant leaves. Participants joined these workshops individually and directly experienced the transformation processes. Through digital systems installed in the same area, visitors’ carbon footprints and water consumption data were calculated. Participants were shown personalized environmental impact profiles based on these calculations, followed by an invitation to sign the globally supported “Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration.” In this section, brochures and visual materials on the protection of natural resources, reduction of plastic use, and recycling practices were distributed.

The 7th Etnospor Culture Festival was inaugurated with the attendance of Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Youth and Sports; Davut Gül, Governor of Istanbul; Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Etnospor Union; and state representatives from various countries. The program began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in front of the Han Tent, followed by a procession and cultural performances.

_{7th Etnospor Culture Festival inauguration ceremony, 22 May 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Etnospor Union, in his speech at the ceremony, noted that the festival had been shaped around the theme of 2025 being declared the “Year of the Family.” He emphasized the importance of transmitting cultural heritage to younger generations and placing family bonds at the center of the festival program. He also addressed children’s right to play and highlighted human rights violations faced by children in conflict zones. He concluded by stating that the festival aims to contribute to the reconstruction of cultural values.

Hon. Bakary Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports of The Gambia, stated in his speech that the festival serves as a cultural meeting point for international participants. He expressed goodwill toward cultural cooperation between Türkiye and The Gambia and conveyed the greetings of the President of The Gambia. He thanked all those involved in organizing the festival and extended best wishes to the participants.

_{Events of the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 22 May 2025 – (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak expressed satisfaction at the strong participation of children and youth at the festival. He underscored the importance of cultural continuity through traditional sports and games and highlighted aspects of the event aligned with youth policies. He emphasized that sport should be recognized as a field that contributes to social cohesion.

Governor Davut Gül, recalling Istanbul’s multicultural structure, stated that the festival provides a foundation for living together in harmony with differences. He drew attention to the significance of the event’s family-centered nature for social interaction.

_{Children killed in Gazzeli are remembered at the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 22 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

In the exhibition area, a journalist’s vest symbolized by a bloodstain was displayed in honor of journalists killed in Israeli attacks, and a boycott guide was distributed. A section of the area featured a simulation tent containing sounds of explosions and screams; inside this tent, a photo exhibition was arranged with children’s toys placed at its center. While shoes were used in 2024 to represent children at the festival, toys were used for this purpose in 2025.

During the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, numerous figures from state protocol, public officials, civil society representatives, and the arts community visited the event grounds. During these visits, participants were engaged directly, booths were toured, and several thematic activities were attended.

_{President Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan at the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 24 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

On the third day of the festival, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the event area at Atatürk Airport. He watched local game performances and witnessed the unveiling of the Turkish and Azerbaijani flags during the acrobatic horse display by the team from Karabakh. During his visit, the “Family Village” was also examined. President Erdoğan was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdoğan, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, and Istanbul Governor Davut Gül.

Emine Erdoğan visited the “Our Shared World” tent of the Zero Waste Foundation during her festival tour. She participated in cultural activities at the Family Village and reviewed workshop activities conducted with children. She was accompanied during the visit by Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Etnospor Union, Abdullah Eren, President of YTB, and Istanbul Governor Davut Gül.

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu visited the Equestrian Sports Field established at the festival and met with citizens. During his visit, he observed traditional sports events and toured various booths. He shared his observations regarding the traditional sports activities, booth arrangements, and youth participation at the event.

_{Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı and Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat at the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 24 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

On the third day of the festival, Ministers İbrahim Yumaklı and Ömer Bolat visited various booths. Both ministers examined product presentations at local producer stalls and held brief discussions with participants. A briefing session on archery was organized during the visit, and they attended several workshops as observers.

On the first day of the festival, Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Baykar, and his wife Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar also visited the event. They toured the booths and made statements to the press. Additionally, they held a meeting with Bilal Erdoğan, President of the World Etnospor Union.

_{Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and his wife Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar at the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 22 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

Participation also came from the arts community. The cast of the TRT 1 series “Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests” met with audiences at a special event held in the TRT tent during the festival. The actors distributed autographs and took photographs with attendees. The event attracted strong interest from series fans and children.

The Etnospor Culture Festival concluded with a closing ceremony held on 25 May 2025. The ceremony began with the presentation of medals and certificates to participants who achieved rankings in the sporting and cultural activities held throughout the festival. The event, held at the Atatürk Airport venue, featured stage performances and presentations.

_{Closing ceremony of the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival, 25 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

At the closing ceremony, athletes who placed in competitions in traditional sports such as archery, wrestling, and horseback archery were honored. In addition, participants in handicrafts, gastronomy, stage performances, and thematic cultural booths received certificates and plaques in recognition of their contributions. Thank-you certificates were presented to all delegations from participating countries.

_{Hakan Kazancı, Vice President of the World Etnospor Union, at the closing ceremony, 25 May 2025 – Anadolu Ajansı}

In his remarks at the ceremony, Hakan Kazancı, Vice President of the World Etnospor Union, announced that the 7th Etnospor Culture Festival had concluded, but preparations for the 8th festival to be held next year had already begun. This statement was framed as an announcement that the closing ceremony also marked the official start of preparations for the next edition.

Awards were also presented to media partners during the ceremony. Anadolu Ajansı was awarded the “Media Partnership and Global Communication Partnership Award” for its global communication efforts throughout the festival. The award was presented by Minister of Health Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu to Yahya Bostan, Head of AA Academy and Publications Coordination.

Following the ceremony, singer Semicenk took the stage and performed an open-air concert for attendees. Musical performances were presented, and festival visitors gathered on the grounds to participate. Throughout the closing day, all areas of the festival remained open to visitors, with daytime activities continuing until evening performances concluded the program.