Edirne Governor Mustafa Büyük told the Anatolia news agency that they had originally planned to feature sumo wrestlers for last year’s competition, but organizational difficulties prevented this from happening. This year, however, sumo wrestlers will be coming to Turkey, he said. Despite the age-old tradition of oil wrestling, promotion for the events has remained local, Büyük noted, and organizers hope that bringing sumo wrestlers will help bring the event attention on an international scale.“The preparations for five wrestlers and a team of five trainers to travel to Edirne from Japan this year are complete; their tickets have been purchased. We must use such exhibition matches to help in promotion; Kırkpınar shouldn’t be known just by residents of Edirne, or only by Turks. If the Selimiye Mosque comes to mind when Edirne is mentioned anywhere in the world, then Kırkpınar should also come to mind,” he said.
The sumo wrestlers will compete amongst themselves, and not with any oil wrestlers. The governor said this was not because the organizers viewed sumo wrestlers as a class above oil wrestlers. “We’re here to find out how the Japanese turned this sport into an industry, how they have made successful films and documentaries on this subject,” he said, noting that Japanese documentary teams would also be present at the event, adding to the promotion of the Kırkpınar contests, which run June 21-27 this year.
