The 7th Ethnosport Culture Festival closed with thunderous applause, a shower of medals, and the beat of tradition on Sunday as more than 1,000 participants from 35 countries came together to celebrate ancient sports and cultural heritage at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport.
Organized by the World Ethnosport Confederation, the four-day celebration offered a colorful fusion of traditional competitions and cultural expression – from mounted archery to folk dances, from handicrafts to gastronomic delights.
Azerbaijan was represented at the event by a 130-member delegation from the State Border Service, organized by the Azerbaijan Equestrian Federation, including 20 renowned Karabakh horses. The show celebrated ancient Turkic traditions, Azerbaijani national music and dance, and showcased the elegance and skill of the Karabakh horses on stage.
On May 24, a special segment of the festival featured a spectacular performance titled “Victory”, presented by the Azerbaijani delegation and attended by President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
The Azerbaijani tent, located on the grounds of Atatürk Airport, showcased elements of the country’s rich national heritage, such as traditional carpets, publications, and kelaghayis. Captivating visitors from the outset, the tent welcomed over a thousand guests during the festival.
Azerbaijani traditional dances performed as part of the concert programs organized in the artistic part of the festival, as well as dances performed by the “Zangezur – Azerbaijan Folk Dance Ensemble” of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center, aroused great interest among visitors.
