Archers Foundation marks Istanbul conquest anniversary

By Guc Gonel and Zeynep Rakipoglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday attended the 8th Conquest Cup Archery Competition award ceremony via videoconference and celebrated the 567th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul.

Stating that this year’s important religious and national days are being celebrated in an extraordinary way due to COVID-19 pandemic, Erdogan said: "We do not allow the situation that we are in to overshadow our enthusiasm of conquest.”

“Archery, one of our ancestor sports, is among the least risky sports amid the pandemic. And also 8th Conquest Cup is the first sports competition after the pandemic. I hope that this sport, which is followed with great interest around the world, will be a herald of the new era in the world,” he said.

Erdogan encouraged the younger generation to be introduced to archery, horseback riding and sports of shooting to connect to Turkey's cultural codes.

"It is not possible for a generation that is unaware of its culture to survive, just as a tree without its roots cannot survive," he said.

Erdogan stressed that their main priority as a state was to raise young people who are self-confident and righteous.

With international events, he said, Turkey has supported coaching of successful athletes and contributed to the recognition of new sports branches worldwide.