Public Works and Housing Minister Mustafa Demir, Samsun Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Samsun deputy and parliamentary group deputy chairman Suat Kılıç attended the event to watch the students dance, recite poems and sing.
The International Turkish Language Olympiads have been held annually since 2003 and are organized by the International Turkish Education Association (TÜRKÇEDER). Hundreds of foreign students studying at Turkish schools throughout the world come to Turkey each year for the competition. While only 17 countries participated in the first International Turkish Language Olympiads, 750 students from 120 countries are competing this year in 13 categories ranging from poetry to songs.
The event held at the Yaşar Doğu gymnasium in Samsun started with a group of students’ folk dance performances. Two Philippine students, Al-Qayyim and Erhad Halud, presented a traditional Turkish Karagöz and Hacivat shadow-puppet show, attracting considerable attention from Samsun locals.
Speaking at the event, Demir said that education is one of the most important areas that can be invested in for the sake of humanism. “We cannot compensate for education by another thing. A growing number of people left their ideals in Turkey and have gone to foreign countries to teach Turkish as well as other lessons to foreign students studying at Turkish schools. We are grateful to them, teachers of students studying at Turkish schools,” Demir pointed out.
“I believe that every Turkish person feels great happiness when they watch the International Turkish Language Olympiads, as it promotes love and peace between countries,” said Güzeloğlu.
The 8th International Turkish Language Olympiads dance final will be held in Bursa on May 31, the singing final at İstanbul’s Ataköy Sinan Erdem Sports Hall on June 1, the poetry final in Konya on June 3 and the final ceremony on June 9 in İstanbul.
