The Oil Wrestling Festival (Yağlı Güreş): Turkey's Oldest Sports Event

Every summer, hundreds of oiled men wrestle for three days in a small town called Kırkpınar. They wear leather pants. They are covered in olive oil. The winner gets the Golden Belt.

1. When and Where It Takes Place

• Held every year in late June or early July

• Location: Kırkpınar, near Edirne (northwestern Turkey, close to Greek and Bulgarian borders)

• Festival lasts 3 days (Friday to Sunday)

• Over 1,000 wrestlers compete (from children to masters)

• The oldest continuously sanctioned sporting competition in the world (established 1362)

2. Who Is Involved

• Başpehlivan (Head Wrestler): The champion competing for Golden Belt

• Pehlivans (Wrestlers): Over 1,000 from all over Turkey

• Cazgır (Announcer): Introduces wrestlers with a traditional chant, holding a microphone

• Judges: Score the match (points for technique and control)

• Crowd: 10,000-20,000 spectators

• Oil boys (yağcılar): Apply olive oil before each match

3. What Happens – The Rules

• Wrestlers wear kispet (black leather knee-length pants, 13-15 kg / 28-33 lbs when wet)

• Covered head to toe in olive oil (slippery, difficult to grip)

• Goal: pin opponent's shoulders to the ground or lift him and carry three steps

• No time limit (matches can last 30 minutes to several hours)

• Victory song (peşrev) played for the winner

• Winner advances through knockout rounds

4. The History and Legend

• Origin story: 26 Ottoman soldiers attacked a Greek garrison

• 1346: The 26 soldiers wrestled near Edirne; 25 were killed

• The one survivor, wounded and exhausted, became the first champion

• Sultan Orhan Gazi established Kırkpınar (meaning "Forty Springs")

• Interrupted only by World Wars (still continues for 600+ years)