Turkish Olympiads close with perfect ceremony

A spectacular closing ceremony for Turkish Language Olympiads took place at İstanbul Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium.
A spectacular closing ceremony for Turkish Language Olympiads took place at İstanbul Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium.


Date posted: June 19, 2013

A spectacular closing ceremony at İstanbul Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium in front of 200,000 spectators for the 11th Turkish Language Olympiads has left bittersweet memories, signaling the end of a two-week festival full of poetry, dance, Turkish culture and music.

Participants, who came from 130 countries, in this year’s competition wrapped up the two-week long finals that were held across Turkey in İstanbul, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also in attendance, praising organizers and congratulating students.

In address to the audience, Erdoğan slammed violent protesters amid approval roar of thousands of spectators. He said the ‘real Turkey’ representing the most parts of Turkey gathered at the stadium.

Praising the organizers of the event and thousands of Turkish teachers who contributed to spread of use of Turkish as a global language abroad, Erdoğan said the struggle is for reaching world peace.

He also hailed Fethullah Gülen movement, a faith-based social movement that focuses on education, inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue, for its contribution to world peace.

Source: Today’s Zaman, 16 June, 2013

Tags: | |


Related News

Democracy on the rocks in Turkey

Last week’s military coup attempt in Turkey is likely to have a debilitating impact on Turkish democracy. Already, several thousand military officials and bureaucrats have been arrested. Even more perturbing, more than 2,000 judges were removed from their jobs.

US high school students visit Turkey, give glowing reviews

A group of American students who came to İstanbul in a cultural exchange program have told Today’s Zaman that their warm reception in Turkey has caused them to view the country extremely positively.

Veteran out of social security coverage after being dismissed in post-coup purge

Being a veteran is no relief from Turkey’s government witch hunt as M.E.Ç., a former police officer who lost his one ear and eye to clashes with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) says he cannot benefit from a state-backed social security coverage to undergo a surgery after dismissal.

Fate of preparatory courses

Zaman’s Hüseyin Gülerce denied allegations that there is tension between the government and Hizmet movement due to government’s steps to bring an end to these preparatory courses, saying that Hizmet does not own all preparatory course schools in the country. What bothers members of Hizmet is that the government has not given a clear or reasonable explanation as to why they are taking these steps, Gülerce said.

Ex-Pentagon advisor says Turkey is heading towards civil conflict, if not civil war

Rubin underlined that Turkey is already dangerously polarized prior to an April 16 referendum on a constitutional package that will grant sweeping powers to Erdoğan and switch the country to an executive presidency. “We know from Turkish political history that such polarization often leads to violence,” he said.

Koza Altın latest victim of government silencing political dissent

Gold mining company Koza Altın A.Ş., the owner of Bugün daily and Kanal Türk TV station, had its activities halted on Tuesday in Çukuralan goldfield, one of the company’s five major gold mines, in a move that has been perceived as the most recent example of the government’s exploitation of inspections and red tape to put pressure on those with critical views.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Operation and crossroads: Hizmet movement falsely accused

Mother with infant jailed while trying to visit imprisoned husband

Arınç says Gülen’s offer to hand over prep schools ‘sacrifice’

TÜBİTAK scolded for hiding olympiad winners were from Hizmet schools

Erdoğan: both asset and liability for AKP

Liberal Turkish Journalists Champion Freedom of Expression, to a Degree

Syrian refugees – Losing Touch With Humanity in Times of War

Copyright 2025 Insightful Neighbor