Journey to a Thousand Years of Heritage at KTMU
On October 12, 2023, a momentous celebration marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye. The occasion was graced by the grand opening ceremony of the inaugural Traditional Sports Games of the Organization of Turkic States-Turkic Universities Union. This remarkable event was organized under the auspices of the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation N. Bilal Erdogan.
The festivities took place at the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University's Traditional Sports Games Square and evolved into a vibrant celebration that vividly showcased the rich culture of the Turkic World. At the heart of this gathering, the principles of brotherhood, friendship, and solidarity took center stage. Turkic people from diverse regions came together to proudly demonstrate a wide array of traditional games that have been passed down through generations. By resurrecting the customs and games of our forebears, this event successfully connected today's youth with the agile and spirited heritage of their ancestors.
The program was attended by Ahmet Sadyk Dogan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Bishkek; Mehmet Davulcu, TRNC Representative; Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic; Celalettin Güvenç and Recep Şeker, Deputies of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation; Dr. Hakan Kazancı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Traditional Sports; Former Minister of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic and current President of the Salburun Confederation, Azamat Camankulov; Former Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Dastanbek Jumabekov; Deputy Chairman of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Dr. Mehmet Berk; TIKA Bishkek Coordinator Mehmet Bodur; Advisor to the Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Asylbek Kulmyrzaev; Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Orhan Dogan; President of the Turkish Equestrian Federation, Zubeyir Bekiroglu; and Member of the Board of Administration, Abdulbahri Unal. Also in attendance were President of the Turkish Wrestling Federation, İbrahim Turkish; Vice President, Mehmet Emin Bay; Rector of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan; Deputy Rector, Dr. Baktygul Kalambekova; many academicians; heads of associations; press members; and students.
The event, which preserved the rich heritage of Turkish culture and transformed into an unforgettable celebration of traditional sports, began with an enthusiastic parade of participating athletes. Athletes from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Istanbul University, Bishkek State University named after Kuseyin Karasaev, Kyrgyz-Uzbek International University named after Batyraly Sydykov, and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University took part in the parade.
Following the parade, an oath-taking ceremony was organized by the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University. After the oath-taking ceremony, national dance performances graced the stage. These spectacular displays showcased the richness and diversity of Turkish culture, creating a captivating atmosphere of history and culture for the audience.
In his opening speech for the 1st Traditional Sports Games of the Organization of Turkic States-Turkic Universities Union, Professor Dr. Kanat Canuzakov, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Manas University, emphasized the importance of passing down traditional sports games to future generations.
Prof. Dr. Kanat Canuzakov, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Manas University, provided information regarding the “I. Traditional Sports Games” organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye. He also expressed his gratitude to N. Bilal Erdogan, the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation, for his contributions to the traditional games of the Turkish people.
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, the Rector of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, discussed the synergy between traditional sports and culture, stating, “As we engage in sports, we simultaneously uphold our cultural heritage.” Rector further conveyed his happiness in hosting this unique event at Manas University with the support of N. Bilal Erdogan, the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation.
Rector Alpaslan Ceylan emphasized, “In order to avoid losing our identity, we must reconnect with our roots and not let them wither away.” Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan further emphasized, “We understand the significance of traditional sports in preserving our cultural heritage. That's why we have complemented this special occasion with a symposium featuring 126 esteemed scholars.”
Directing his words to the younger generation, the Rector remarked, “Dear youth, the responsibility of carrying forward the richness of our past into the present falls upon you. It is your duty to safeguard our history, culture, language, religion, and civilization, ensuring they thrive in the future. You are the reflection of our future.”
Dr. Hakan Kazancı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Traditional Sports, expressed his hope that this event would endure not just for one or ten years but for centuries to come. He added, “May this event persist and grow, enabling us to pass on our traditional culture to successive generations and to the youth who will shape our future.”
Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan, the President of the World Ethnosport Confederation delivered significant remarks concerning the activities of the Confederation, established in 2015. President Bilal Erdogan underscored the Confederation's continuous growth in institutional strength, with 27 member nations representing 19 countries. He expressed their unwavering commitment to the promotion and enhancement of traditional sports, not only within the Turkic World but globally.