Organized by the International Turkish Education Association (TÜRKÇEDER), the International Turkish Language Olympiads, a competition held annually since 2003, bring hundreds of foreign students from Turkish schools throughout the world to Turkey.Bursa Governor Şahabettin Harput and State Minister Faruk Çelik were among attendees at the event at Bursa’s Kültürpark Open-air Theater. Bursa locals also turned out en masse to watch the competition, but due to capacity constraints many had to make do with watching the happenings from outside the venue via large projector screens erected by the Bursa Municipality.
The Moldovan students performed a folk dance from the northern province of Giresun. This year’s International Turkish Language Olympiads, which included 750 students from 120 countries, began with a magnificent opening ceremony at İstanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace. As part of the Olympiads, various programs and competitions are being organized in cities around Turkey.
Twelve dance groups competed in the competition; a group of students from Indonesia performing a folk dance from Artvin placed second while a troop of Kyrgyz students came in third.
Speaking at the award ceremony for the dance category, Harput said that Turkish was fast becoming a world language. “We are witnessing history. The International Turkish Language Olympiads promote love and peace throughout the world,” he said, also thanking everyone involved with the international organization of Turkish schools throughout the world and the and the International Turkish Language Olympiads.
In addition to the top three, a “sympathy award” was granted to Georgia, the “1st music award” to India, the “2nd music award” to Mali, the “stage award” to Senegal and the “costume award” to teams from the United States and Turkmenistan.
