Sports
Traditional and International Sports In Turkey
Among all sports in Turkey, the most popular one is football. Turkey's top teams include Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş. In 2000, Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup. Two years later, the Turkish national team finished third in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Finals in Japan and South... Korea, while in 2008, the national team reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 competition. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, while the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul hosted the 2009 UEFA Cup Final.
Other mainstream sports such as basketball and volleyball are also popular. Turkey hosted the Finals of EuroBasket 2001 and the 2010 FIBA World Championship, with the men's national team finishing second in both events. The national team also reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Championship. At club level, Efes Pilsen S.K. won the Korać Cup in 1996, finished second in the Saporta Cup of 1993, and made it to the Final Four of Euroleague and Suproleague in 2000 and 2001. Also, Beşiktaş Milangaz have come out as the winners of Eurochallenge in 2012-2013 season with only a single defeat, all stages of the tournament included. For the same season, Beşiktaş dominated all national competitions as well, relying upon NBA veterans including Carlos Arroyo, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Adam Morrison as well as Deron Williams for a short spell. Turkish basketball players such as Mehmet Okur, Hidayet Türkoğlu and Ersan İlyasova have also been successful in the NBA. Women's volleyball teams, namely Fenerbahçe, Eczacıbaşı and Vakıfbank Güneş Sigorta, have won numerous European championship titles and medals.Fenerbahçe also won the CEV Women's Volleyball World Club Championship in 2010. Turkey Women's National Basketball team won silver medal in European Championship in 2011 while Women's National Volleyball Team won 6th place in World Championship in 2010 and won a bronze medal in European Championship in 2011. Turkish athletes recently achieved success in European level; Elvan Abeylegesse winning gold medal in Women's 10000 metres and silver in Women's 5000 metres, Alemitu Bekele winning gold medal in Women's 5000 metres and Nevin Yanıt winning gold medal in Women's 100 metres Hurdl in 2010 European Championship.
Sports in Turkey
Connect to your sporting passion in Turkey, which hosts everything from international tennis matches, cycling tour and water sports to motor-racing events and Turkish Grand Prix.
It is easy to go sports mad in Turkey, which hosts events for motor-race fans, tennis lovers and swimmers. Get a courtside view of the tennis greats at the Istanbul...
Traditional Turkish Sports
Turkey has in fact a wide range and variety in traditional sports, a few of them are mentioned below.
- Edirne Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling
- Artvin Kafkasor Bullfighting
- The Game of Cirit
- Selcuk Camel Wrestling...
Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling
There is only one wrestling tournament in the world where contestants slather themselves with olive oil before entering the grassy ring. Called the Kirkpinar Oily Wrestling tournament, the ancient grappling fest took place on June 27 outside of the northwestern Turkish city of Edirne. This is the Turkish national sport, a competitive wrestling...
Kafkasor Bullfighting
Artvin, with its unique Kafkasor bullfights which offer scenes of breathtaking excitement, as well as its other festivals and feasts, is a region that should on no account be missed. The most interesting part of the festival held on the third week of June every year is the bullfighting. Bulls from all parts of the province are classified according...
Selçuk Camel Wrestling
Camel wrestling is one of the traditional sports in Turkey. It is most common in the Aegean region of Turkey, but is also been practiced in other parts of Turkey. It is thought that this sport has its origins in the nomadic tribes who depended on camels for their livelihood. Today, it is mostly popular in the Aegean region, where contests are held...
The Game of Cirit
This traditional game is a team event, involving two teams of horsemen, who throw wooden javelins at each other to score points. During the Ottoman period it became a popular war game demonstrating the bravery of its participants, with competitions held in the Hippodrome in Istanbul. Despite its popularity, it was banned in 1826 by Sultan Mahmut...
Sailing and Boat Trips, Gulet Cruising
Turkey has four bordering seas; the Black Sea, Marmara Sea, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea, so it not surprising that cruising is a popular sport here. There are many cruising charters available, both as bareboat or Gulet boats. Gulets are traditional wooden huled motor yachts with many conforts and gulet holidays are becoming increasingly...
Scuba Diving
Mediterranean and Aegean coasts are the best places to dive. It is also possible to dive to shipwrecks from World War I (with special permission of local authorities) in Gallipoli, Çanakkale. Diving for purposes of sport, with proper equipment and in non-restricted areas, is permitted. Foreign divers should have official documentation of their...
Rafting & Canoeing
Turkey's rivers provide perfect conditions for canoeing and rafting, for both beginners and experienced, because of their length, depth and water regime. Some of the best rivers for rafting are: Çoruh, Barhal, Berta, Fırtına, Çolak, Koprüçay, Manavgat, Dragon, Göksu (Silifke), Zamanti, Göksu (Feke), Kızılırmak and Dalaman Çayı....
Windsurfing
The bays around Çesme, Bodrum and Datça Peninsulas, as well as Antalya. have ideal wind conditions for windsurfing. Turkey's Aegean shores are among the best windsurfing and kite surfing areas in the Mediterranean. The coastal plain enjoys an exceptionally mild climate, with soft, verdant springs, hot summers, sunny autumns and warm winters...
Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding or Kitesurfing is one of the latest popular water sports in the world, as well as in Turkey. In the past 10 years many kiteboarding centers are opened along the Turkish coastline, frequented by the locals and foreigners during the summer months.
There are several good kiteboarding locations and kiteboard schools in Turkey where...
Fishing
Fishing can be done without a license in non-prohibited and non-military areas as long as you're an amateur, using amateur and non-commercial equipment, multi-hooked lines, and fishing nets not weighing more than 5 kilograms. Commercial fishing by foreigners might result in heavy penalties. Latest details concerning fishing zones, the minimum...
Flying & Ballooning
Plane gliding, hang gliding, parachuting, paragliding and single engine flights are catered for as well as services that provide instruction courses. Best areas are Fethiye, Eskisehir, Pamukkale, Ephesus and Istanbul.
Hot Air Balloon rides can be taken daily over Cappadocia near Nevsehir province. Each flight is a fantastic experience as...
Football
Football (Soccer) is Turkey’s national sport and is played everywhere. Some of the well known teams are: Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor. At this stage Turkish football is at a very important point. Turkish national teams are struggling with the strongest teams in the world and are getting more and more successful results....
Mountaineering
Special permission is needed to climb the Büyük Ağrı (Ararat) and Cilo-Sat ranges. It is generally advisable to inform the Turkish Mountaineering Club of the region and time of the intended climb. The Club will then inform the relevant authorities....
