The third annual Ethnosport Cultural Festival begins in Istanbul. Festival to spotlight Turkic sports and cultures, while over 800 athletes will compete in 13 categories.

Organized by the World Ethnosports Federation and sponsored by Anadolu Agency, it aims to promote traditional sports and preparation for the Olympics and will allow many successful and talented athletes to shine.

The five-day festival in Istanbul’s Yenikapi Square will revive celebrations indigenous to the Turkic world, Central Asia and Anatolia.

Aside from traditional Turkish sports, traditional Turkic tents will offer activities such as historical craft shops and a sword-shield dance. Horse parades will also take place.

The festival will become a celebration with traditional Central Asian feasts, traditional dances, horseback riding for both children and adults, children’s games and theaters, traditional food as well as tents of Turkic countries and peoples.

A total of 883 athletes will compete in 13 different categories, including aba wrestling, Shalwar wrestling, brace wrestling, oil wrestling, mounted archery as well as Yabusame.

In oil wrestling, a total of 300 athletes including 45 chief wrestlers will compete.