Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Unique Turkish Sport 3--Oil Wrestling

And this 3rd, very unique sport, which I think we're in the wrong season to see...oil wrestling.  I had heard of this before.  Apparently Kevin Spacey is a fan, though I've never liked him much in anything except American Beauty (think rose petals, not rosebud...).

As Kinser tells us:  "The third of Turkey's great sporting traditions, oil wrestling, was born in the town of Kirkpmar, a few miles from the presnt-day border with Greece, at the beginning of the 15th C.  Almost every year since then, boys and men have traveled there from across the country to test their strength and skill.  This is the only wrestling tournament in the world at which contestants use 3 tons of olive oil."

Oh, let's just watch:


There is quite a bit of ceremony, before the oil hits--but I'm not an expert.
Kinser tells us that the "undisputed king of modern oil wrestling is a former factory worker named Ahmet Tasci"--Champion for 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000:



Maybe that will be a way to start a conversation.  "Hey, how about those oily guys..."

later, bob
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1 Response
  1. Unknown Says:

    I kinda felt like a voyeur watching the oil wrestling.....I think I'm glad it's the wrong season.....


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