Joint Symposium by KSU and KTMU on the Sporting Heritage of the Turkic Peoples
The 13th International Symposium on Traditional Sports Games of the Turkic Peoples, jointly organized by Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (KSU) and Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU) was held with great participation on October 30–31, 2025, at the KSU Yunus Emre Congress and Culture Center.
The symposium aimed to preserve, sustain, and pass down the shared sporting heritage of Turkic peoples to future generations. Among the attendees were KSU Rector Prof. Dr. Alptekin Yasım, KTMU Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, Rector of İstiklal University Prof. Dr. İsmail Bakan, Kahramanmaraş Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Yasin Özdemir, as well as numerous academics, guests, and students.
In his opening speech, KSU Rector Prof. Dr. Alptekin Yasım emphasized the importance of addressing the common values, cultural ties, and traditional sports of Turkic peoples within a scientific framework.
Prof. Dr. Ceylan: “The Traditional Games of the Turkic World Are the Guarantee of Our Cultural Continuity”
As an honorary guest of the symposium, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Rector Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan highlighted that the survival of national culture is only possible when societies uphold their own values. Prof. Dr. Ceylan stated, “The strongest way to keep a culture alive is to reproduce it through sports, art, and science,” emphasizing that traditional sports are not merely physical activities but profound symbols of identity embedded in the historical memory of Turkic peoples.
Recalling the saying, “The horse is the Turk’s wings,” Prof. Dr. Ceylan underlined the common roots, spirit of solidarity, and sense of brotherhood among Turkic peoples. He continued, “Carrying the traditional games of the Turkic world into the future through scientific research is the most solid assurance of our cultural continuity and unity.”
Stating that Manas University assumes a pioneering and guiding mission in this field, Rector Prof. Dr. Ceylan concluded, “This symposium is not just an academic gathering but a concrete reflection of the determination and shared spirit of the Turkic peoples to protect their cultural heritage.”
Scientific Exchange, Cultural Unity, and Shared Memory
During the two-day symposium, academics from various regions of the Turkic world presented papers on topics such as ancestral sports, folk dances, traditional clothing, cultural interaction, and collective memory.
The presentations focused on preserving and transmitting the shared cultural heritage of Turkic peoples through scientific approaches. Participants emphasized that traditional sports are not merely competitions but essential elements of identity rooted in the historical memory of the Turkic nations.
Attracting great interest, the symposium concluded with a closing session, the presentation of certificates of appreciation to participants, and a group photo.
The event was recorded as an important platform that strengthened cultural solidarity and reinforced scientific cooperation across the Turkic world.