EDIRNE, Türkiye, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of spectators packed the stands on Sunday as the 665th Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival in Türkiye reached its final day, with wrestlers coated in olive oil battling for the championship in one of the world's oldest sporting traditions.
In the northwestern city of Edirne, the rhythmic beat of drums echoed across the grassy arena as competitors wearing black leather trousers stepped onto the field, their bodies glistening with olive oil before locking into combat.
Dating back more than 660 years, Kirkpinar is widely regarded as one of the world's oldest continuously held sporting events. In 2010, the festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
According to legend, the tradition began during the Ottoman era when 40 soldiers held wrestling matches while on campaign. After two wrestlers fought until both died of exhaustion, a spring emerged where they were buried. The place became known as Kirkpinar, or "Forty Springs," and annual wrestling competitions have been held in their memory ever since.
For many Turks, oil wrestling represents far more than athletic competition. The festival combines centuries-old rituals, including ceremonial processions, traditional music, poetic introductions of wrestlers and the presentation of the coveted golden belt.
Kemal Soyturk, director of culture and tourism for Edirne Province, said the festival embodies values such as fairness, respect and discipline.
"Kirkpinar is not only a sporting event but also Edirne's most important cultural and tourism brand," he said. "It carries forward the moral traditions of ancient warriors while introducing our city to visitors from around the world."
Those traditions are passed down through generations. Young wrestlers train under experienced masters, learning not only techniques but also humility, perseverance and respect. Many participants come from families that have competed in the festival for generations, hoping one day to win the championship's symbolic golden belt.
Beyond preserving cultural heritage, the festival has become a powerful economic driver.
Every summer, tens of thousands of visitors travel to Edirne to watch the matches, tour the UNESCO-listed Selimiye Mosque and sample local specialties such as fried liver, bringing a surge of business to hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.
Local shop owner Canan Altunay Ilgin said she had prepared multilingual welcome signs for visitors arriving from neighboring Bulgaria and Greece.
Hotel rooms had been booked months in advance, hotel manager Sureyya Guvenc said, adding that the festival makes a significant contribution to the city's economy.
"No matter how hot or difficult the journey is, I keep coming back. This is more than a sport," said Efkan Kurtcebe, who has attended the festival for two decades.
Today, the oil-soaked wrestling field is not only an arena for athletic competition but also a place where centuries-old traditions continue to generate new cultural and economic vitality. ■
