The traditional games festival was launched in the Turkish province of Van on Monday to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert, in which the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire.
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In its fifth edition, the festival will take place over 4 days, with the participation of 8 Arab countries: Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, and Sudan.
The first day of the festival witnessed a military parade of Turkish aviation, exhibitions of the most prominent Turkish heritage products, including antiques, paintings, and artifacts, and exhibitions of the participating countries.
Turkish exhibits also contained uniforms, tactical weapons, and equipment for the security forces and gendarmerie.
The festival, which continues until Thursday, witnesses traditional games such as wrestling and gyret, which is based on horse riding and throwing spears at knights, and other traditional games practiced by the Turkish tribes in Central Asia.
The Battle of Manzikert took place on August 26, 1071, in which the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan managed to defeat the Byzantine army led by Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes.
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Four years after the victory, the Seljuk state of Rum was established, which was followed by the proclamation of one of the largest countries in the world, the Ottoman Empire.
Which opened the way for the Turks to advance in Asia Minor, which is now known as Turkey, and constituted a historical turning point in the region.
