The International Conquest Cup, which is organized to keep ancestral sports alive, to pass on the rich cultural heritage to future generations and to introduce these values on an international platform, will once again host a magnificent meeting in Istanbul this year. This prestigious organization, which will be held with the participation of a total of 43 athletes from 710 different countries, will make a significant contribution to the revival of traditional sports and their rightful attention.
The Conquest Cup was introduced in the historical Yedikule Fortress
The introductory meeting of the 572th Conquest Cup, which has become a tradition on the occasion of the 13nd anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul, was held by the Archers Foundation in the Fatih Mosque, Yedikule Hisarı, Istanbul, which fascinates with its historical atmosphere. This meaningful introductory meeting was attended by important names such as Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül, Fatih Mayor M. Ergün Turan, Chairman of the Board of Turkish Airlines Ahmet Bolat, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Archers Foundation Bilal Erdoğan, President of the Archers Foundation Hüseyin Topbaş and President of the Turkish Traditional Turkish Archery Federation Cengiz Tokgöz.
Minister Ersoy: “Traditional Sports Are a Cultural Duty”
Speaking at the press conference of the tournament, which will be held under the auspices of the Presidency and in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Archers Foundation between May 25-29, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy began his speech by remembering with mercy and gratitude all the martyrs, especially the architect of the conquest, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan. Minister Ersoy drew attention to the vital importance of such valuable organizations that keep the spirit of the conquest alive in terms of young generations establishing a strong bond with their history.
Minister Ersoy, who pointed out that the protection of traditional sports is not only a sporting activity but also a deep cultural responsibility, emphasized that as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, one of its most fundamental priorities is to meticulously protect and restore each and every work that bears the traces of civilization. Ersoy stated that with the efforts carried out under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in addition to the preservation of historical works in the country and their transfer to future generations, Turkish works that were smuggled abroad and found all around the world are also being restored to the country with great devotion.
The Contribution of the Archers Foundation to Ancestral Sports is Admirable
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy devoted a significant portion of his speech to the Okçular Foundation, emphasizing the valuable and admirable efforts of the foundation in preserving, keeping alive and passing on the historical, cultural and sportive dimensions of ancestral sports to future generations. Underlining that traditional Turkish sports, whose roots date back centuries, are an inseparable and important part of the rich cultural heritage of Turkish civilization, Minister Ersoy drew attention to the fact that the Okçular Foundation carries out these meaningful efforts with great devotion and meticulousness.
Minister Ersoy noted that the Archers Foundation, beyond reminding us of this valuable heritage, also made a significant contribution to cultural diplomacy through the organizations it organized at the international level. Ersoy stated that thanks to these international events, the subtleties of Turkish culture and civilization were introduced to people from different parts of the world.
43 Athletes from 710 Countries Meet in Istanbul
Minister of Culture and Tourism Ersoy expressed his great honor in promoting the International Conquest Cup, which will be held for the 13th time this year, and expressed his sincere belief that this important tournament, which will be held with the participation of a total of 43 talented athletes from 710 different countries, is a valuable step taken for traditional sports to receive the great attention they deserve and reach a much wider audience.
Minister Ersoy sincerely thanked all public institutions and organizations that supported the tournament, especially the Archers Foundation, who contributed to the realization of this great organization, and wished success to all athletes who will compete in the tournament. Ersoy concluded his speech by emphasizing that they will continue to protect traditional sports and keep historical and cultural heritage alive.
Türkiye is the Center of World Archery
Expressing his great satisfaction with the visible development that archery has achieved in recent years, Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak also drew attention to the significant successes that Türkiye has achieved in international competitions in this field in his speech at the press conference. Minister Osman Aşkın Bak said, “Our country won the gold medal in archery at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Mete Gazoz, He again participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics with Özgür Cüre in the Paralympics and became the Olympic Champion. "Elif Berra also made a significant breakthrough. We have young talented athletes and when we evaluate from our perspective, Türkiye is in a very important and central position in world archery," he said.
Minister Bak, who emphasized that Türkiye has become the center of world archery, stated that the international archery tournaments successfully held in Antalya are of great importance in terms of both traditional and modern archery. Minister Bak, who pointed out that such international sports organizations are also an important element for Turkish tourism, expressed that incredible progress has been made thanks to the strategic investments made in organizing sports organizations.
Following the Legacy of Fatih, 50 Thousand Young People Meet Traditional Archery
World Ethnosport Confederation President and Archers Foundation Board of Trustees Member Bilal Erdoğan said that the Archers Foundation has been struggling with great effort since the day it was founded to carry the great responsibility of shouldering the legacy of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan. In his speech, Erdoğan stated that very valuable contributions have been made in the revival of traditional archery in Türkiye, the strengthening of the sport of archery and its rightful place in the international arena, and the transfer of this meaningful mission that Turkish history has imposed on new generations. Bilal Erdoğan added that the Archers Lodge alone has introduced more than 50 thousand young people to the traditional sport of archery to date. This figure clearly demonstrates how effective the foundation is in connecting young generations with their ancestral sports.
