We’re now in the midst of one of the biggest summers of sport this country has ever seen, with one big event taking place after another.
All eyes are on Wimbledon at the moment and with the Olympic Games now less than a month away, this fantastic sporting season is about to get even better.
But it’s not just in the UK that sporting events are taking place. In Turkey, this weekend saw the start of the centuries-old Kirkpinar Oil Wresting Championships.
The oldest wrestling competition in the world, the Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Championships have been held every year since the 1360s.
The championships are held at the end of June each year, and see more than 1,000 of Turkey’s best wrestlers – both young and old – fight it out in a “sudden death” competition.
The event sees competitors lather themselves in Omega 3-rich olive oil and go one-on-one with each other, wearing nothing but a pair of leather trousers.
The bouts are notoriously brutal, with each wrestler trying to out-manoeuvre their opponent with tactical moves such as putting a hand down the side of the trousers and even the schoolboy classic, the wedgie.
The competition is certainly tough, but has got a lot safer in the last 40 years. Originally a form of training for imperial Sultans’ bodyguards, oil wrestling was not for the faint-hearted.
As both competitors are more slippery than a bar of soap, it can be incredibly hard to pin one of them down.
In the past, matches could last for days – not a pleasant thought in the heat of the Turkish summer sun. Thankfully for those involved, matches have now been given a time limit of 40 minutes.
Oil wrestling is a highly celebrated national sport in Turkey, with the champions being crowned victorious by the Turkish president and gaining celebrity status in the country.
The Championships are accompanied by a vibrant bohemian festival, with music, singing and dancing. So, if Wimbledon is not quite doing it for you this year, head to Turkey for this most macho of sporting events.
(Images: CharlesFred)
