Organized by the World Ethnosport Union, the 7th Ethnosport Forum was held in St. Petersburg. At the forum, 200 participants from 40 countries outlined the roadmap for the future of traditional sports. During the opening remarks, President of the World Ethnosport Union, Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, stated, “Humanity increasingly needs the principles of peace, solidarity, respect, and tradition, which the World Ethnosport Union has embraced and built its mission upon.”
Ethnosport Forum Excitement in St. Petersburg
Held between April 19–20 in St. Petersburg under the theme "Reviving Traditional Sports," the 7th Ethnosport Forum brought together 200 participants from 40 countries. The forum commenced with opening speeches and continued with panels, sessions, and various events discussing the future of traditional sports.
High-Level Participation
The forum welcomed high-level participation, including the Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Degtyarev; the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye, Osman Aşkın Bak; the Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerbol Myrzabosynov; and the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, Sergey Kovalchuk. Deputy ministers and senior officials from various countries also participated.
Joint Declaration Signed for the Revival of Traditional Sports
In a significant step toward revitalizing traditional sports, a joint declaration was signed by World Ethnosport Union President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, Russian Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyarev, Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerbol Myrzabosynov, and Belarusian Minister of Sports and Tourism Sergey Kovalchuk.
The declaration reaffirmed the parties’ collective commitment to protecting, promoting, and advancing international cooperation in the field of traditional sports. It aims to create a stronger foundation for cooperation among nations to preserve and pass on traditional sports to future generations.
Future of Traditional Sports Discussed
Following the opening speeches on the first day of the forum, a High-Level Ministerial Panel was held, moderated by World Ethnosport Union President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan. The panel addressed the current state and future potential of traditional sports.
Communications Panel Held
The second day of the 7th Ethnosport Forum began with the Communications Panel. Participants shared insights into practical communication and media strategies for promoting and expanding traditional sports. The session also discussed strategies, target audience experiences, and examples of successful practices within an integrated communication framework.
6th Traditional Sports Awards Presented
During the 7th Ethnosport Forum held in St. Petersburg, the 6th Traditional Sports Awards were presented to individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to traditional sports. Awardees were selected in six distinct categories.
Since 2019, the World Ethnosport Union has organized the Traditional Sports Awards to recognize contributions to the preservation of traditional sports and games. This annual ceremony honors individuals, institutions, and organizations for their dedicated efforts.
This year, the Leadership Award—presented in the name of President Vladimir Putin—was handed by World Ethnosport Union President Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan to Russian Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyarev. Prof. Dr. Zinaida Kuznetsova was recognized with the Academician Award for her scholarly work, while the Traditional Sports Organization Award was also granted.
The Young Traditional Athlete Award was presented to Farangiz Abdunabieva, champion of Belbogli Kurash from Uzbekistan. The Adult Athlete Award went to traditional Turkish archer Ayşegül Demirbağ Çalışkan from Türkiye. The Best Traditional Sports Organization Award was given to the Equestrian Federation of the Republic of Azerbaijan. For its contribution to communications in the field of traditional sports, Qazaqstan TV received the Communications Award.
