Countdown begins for Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling: No vacancies left in hotels

The 663rd edition of Kırkpınar, one of the world's oldest organizations and included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, begins on Friday, July 5.

The wrestling matches will conclude on Sunday, July 7, with the chief wrestler (başpehlivan) final, where the winner of the 663rd Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling will be determined.

Wrestling enthusiasts wishing to follow the event made hotel reservations months in advance. Due to the high demand, hotels in Edirne have reached near-full occupancy in a short time.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATE REACHED 100 PERCENT

Selami Tunçel, a hotel owner in Edirne, stated that the occupancy rate at his hotel has reached 100 percent and noted that other hotels are also approaching full capacity. Hotel manager Murat Tunçel also explained that they have been facing intense reservation requests for about a month.

WORK ACCELERATES AT THE DUALI ÇAYIR ER MEYDANI

Feverish work by municipal teams has accelerated at the Sarayiçi Er Meydanı, where the wrestling matches will take place. The teams are carrying out cleaning and arrangement work in and around the wrestling arena.

Kırkpınar Sarayiçi Er Meydanı Facility Manager Ahmet Kıyı stated that the maintenance and repairs of the 13,000-capacity stands have been completed, saying, "We invite all wrestling enthusiasts to the 663rd Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling, which will be held on July 5-6-7."

News Source: İHA