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Turkey's traditional Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling competition kicks off for 657th time
Turkey's traditional Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling competition kicks off for 657th time
Turkey’s longest-running traditional sports event, Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling competition, has started in the northwestern province of Edirne. Click through for the story in photos...
The Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling is recognized as a cultural heritage by UNESCO and is believed to be one of the oldest sports competitions in the world. It is organized for the 657th time this year.
Thousands of spectators, local and foreign, have flocked to Edirne to watch the wrestlers.
The wrestlers of Kırkpınar are known as “pehlivans” and the meadow that they wrestle on is traditionally called “er meydanı” (the arena of the brave).
Wrestlers are competing under different categories in the three-day event that started on July 13, 2018.
A record number of 2,238 oil wrestlers have been registered to compete in 14 different weight categories.
Pehlivans wear traditional tight, short, leather pants called “kıspet,” made of water ox leather that weight some 13 kilograms, douse their bodies with olive oil before the bouts begin.
Medical teams are present on the arena for emergency cases.
Thousands of Kırkpınar fans camp near the arena...
...and Edirne's historic Selimiye Mosque.
Click through for more photos from the festival-like wrestling competition of Kırkpınar...
Photos: Demirören News Agency
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