Every year, Edirne, better known as Adrianople, becomes a Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling host. This is the world’s longest-running sport, not including disciplines from the Olympic games. Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling is also the property of the World Heritage of UNESCO.
In the tournament, the opponents, who are lubricated in oil, fight each other to determine the strongest fighter.
As someone said,
Potential is interesting, performance is everything.
Table of Contents
History
As far as we know, Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling has existed since 2650 BC. It has its origins in Greece and Egypt, where some bodies of evidence were found. One piece of evidence was a painting in a wrestler’s tomb and a tiny piece of bronze, which was spotted nearby. Another proof that oil wrestling has existed since ancient times is a cartoon, drawn in a tomb in Egypt. This cartoon describes the essential steps of oil wrestling.
Oil wrestling soon became popular and spread throughout Iran, the Greco-Roman Empire, and some other locations. Since 1924, Edirne has been home to Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling. Each year, about 300 oil wrestling games attract about ten million visitors. Oil wrestling became one of the sports supported by the Turkish Federation of Traditional Sport Branches in 1996; it was established the same year by the Ministry of Turkey. In other countries, oil wrestling has also become a very popular sport.
Prohibited list for the participants
Only male contestants are allowed to take part in the competition. Their religion, race, level of training, and other things are not important to the judges. One needs to perform better than the other competitors to win. The rewards for a winner are the golden belt and the title of the ultimate winner.
Rules and regulations
The only part of the uniform to be worn is a kispet, or leather trousers. All uniforms must fit men well. The competition always starts with a prayer on Friday.
Then, in Sarayiçi—the historical and symbolic area of the city—around 2,000 warriors prepare for the battle. Before the start, each one needs to be covered in olive oil. Athletes compete in pairs: they enter the fighting field together to folk and drum music. One needs to take three steps back, then three steps forward. Some other rituals include special positions in which certain parts of your body should remain before the battle.
With the last step and bidding defiance,
Bring it on, Wrestler!
the opponents start fighting. A man who carries his opponent 3 steps forward, pulls his trousers down, or makes him sit or lie on the ground, or even raises him in the air, wins!
The hardest part of the contest is to grab your opponent by any part of his body for the oil makes the skin slippery and adds some more complexity to the fight.
Before 1975, a fight was to be continued until one won; it could have lasted for hours or even days. Now, wrestling is limited to 30–40 minutes, depending on the category.
Visiting Turkey: What else to see on your way to Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling?
If you’re planning to attend the competition, there are plenty of other things to do in Turkey. This country is worth visiting and exploring the local culture.
Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, located less than half an hour away from Kirkpinar, is a treasure trove of emotions. A sightseeing tour is definitely worth a shot. On the first day, you will see the ancient architecture, such as the Serpentine Column and the famous Grand Covered Bazaar. On the second day, you will explore the Princes’ Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Turkey. There, you can relax on the beach or go look at Maiden’s Tower from the James Bond movies. This is a great location to observe the city yourself.
Further details
Attending Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling? It begins on June 27th and ends on July 3rd, 2022. Make sure you have some time before coming to Edirne—and make the most of your vacation in Turkey!
