The 22nd International Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival started with the opening ceremony held at Belcekiz beach. Speaking at the ceremony, Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO) Board of Directors Osman Çıralı stated that the Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival played an important role in promoting the region in the international arena and increasing the brand value of Fethiye, and said, “We must accept the attempts to prevent our long-established and well-attended festival, which has been held for 22 years. not possible. I would like to thank everyone who supported and participated in the realization of our 19nd Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival, which will be held between 23-2022 October 22 with the persistent initiatives of our Chamber and Municipality.” said.
The opening ceremony of the 50nd International Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival, attended by thousands of athletes from nearly 22 countries, including the world's best aerobatic athletes, was held on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, on the Belcekız beach, Fethiye District Governor Alper Balcı, THK Trustee Committee Deputy Chairman Ali Yüksel, Fethiye Municipality. Chairman Alim Karaca, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FTSO Osman Çıralı, representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations and citizens attended.
Çıralı: “We did not allow the efforts to prevent the festival”
In his opening speech at the ceremony, FTSO President Osman Çıralı, who thanked the athletes participating in the festival from abroad and from within the country and everyone who contributed to the promotion and development of tourism for 22 years by supporting the organization, said, “Oludeniz Air Games Festival is undoubtedly in the international promotion of our region and Fethiye. It plays an important role in increasing the brand value of . Sports and activities within the scope of air games also reveal the potential of our region in alternative tourism.” said. Stressing that the festival will be the meeting point of thousands of athletes, Çıralı said:
“We are witnessing attempts to prevent such a deep-rooted and widely attended festival that has been held for 22 years. In particular, different organizations were coincided with the same dates, and it was deliberately brought up that the Ölüdeniz air games should not be held this year. We could not accept this. With the persistent efforts of our Chamber and Municipality, we are holding our 19nd Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival, which will be held between 23-2022 October 22. Thank you to everyone who supported and participated.
The ability to fly from Babadağ for most of the year and the view of Ölüdeniz make our region unique in terms of paragliding. The interest in paragliding has increased even more with Babadağ Cable Car, the project of our chamber that adds value to our region. Our aim is to make Babadağ and Ölüdeniz the number 1 air sports center of the world. Thus, we will contribute to the increase of tourism income of our region and our country.
10 people flew from Babadağ with paragliding in 162.313 months
The number of people paragliding from Babadağ to Belcekiz, accompanied by the view of Ölüdeniz, is increasing every year. As of October 18, 2022, a total of 107.331 people flew from Babadağ this year, including 54.982 tandem and 162.313 singles. In 2021, the all-time record was broken with 167 flights. It seems that a new record will be broken in Babadağ this year.
The most important goal of our Chamber is to keep the income obtained from the increase in the number of tourists coming to our region, the cable car exits to Babadağ and the increase in the number of paragliding flights in our region. Our struggle will continue for our region to get the share it deserves from the income from Babadağ. I would like to express my gratitude to all of our members who saw our just struggle on this issue and appreciated us with their votes and gave us full authority in the elections of our Chamber. Fethiye, which takes its name from our air martyr, deserves to be remembered with air games. I hope that our festival will pass with enthusiasm and be completed without any accident.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca congratulated Osman Çıralı, who was re-elected as the Chairman of the FTSO Board of Directors.
Karaca: “The only festival in Turkey that has been held continuously for 22 years”
Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca stated that they are happy to continue the festival for 22 years, excluding the pandemic, and said, “Fethiye Ölüdeniz Air Games Festival is the second largest organization of our country in the world on an international scale. It is the only festival in our country that has been held continuously for 22 years. Only in 2022, unfortunately, we had to take a break due to the pandemic. After the pandemic, we have come this far with the work and support we have carried out with our stakeholders, especially our Chamber of Commerce and Industry. According to the latest data, we hosted 1 million 30 thousand tourists in Fethiye between January 1 and September 200. Most of the hotels reached XNUMX percent occupancy during the season. We hope that the intensity at the facilities will continue until the end of November.”
At the event, paramotor and sail wing demonstration was performed by the pilots of the Turkish Aeronautical Association. Hundreds of red and white balloons were dropped into the sky by paragliding pilots for peace. Within the scope of the festival, which will end on October 23, there will be base jump (free fall), skydiving (sky diving), wingsuit (bat-man flight) and aerobatic shows, and free public flights.
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