Swimmers take part in marathon July 20 swim
A “PEACE and Freedom Swimming Marathon” involving 72 participants was held in Gazimağusa’s Maraş region last Sunday as part of July 20 celebrations.
President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ersan Saner, Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Gazimağusa Mayor İsmail Arter and other officials attended the competition’s award ceremony.
The competition was organised by the TRNC Water Sports Federation at the “Nation’s Garden” on the Maraş coast.
Children competed in a 1,500m race while adults swam in a 3,000m competition.
TRNC Water Sports Federation president Ender Yeşilyurt thanked everyone who contributed and supported the event.
Stating that their next goal is to make the competition international, Mr Yesilyurt also introduced eight athletes who participated in the Turkish championships at the ceremony.
Deputy Prime Minister Erhan Arıklı, who is responsible for government sports policy, pointed out how “successful Turkish Cypriot youth can be when the barriers are removed”.
“Our duty is to work on the development of sports and the lifting of embargoes,” Dr Arıklı said. “The Kosovo model is the greatest example of the removal of barriers.”
Mr Saner congratulated all the athletes who participated in the competition in “stunning Maraş” and said this “beautiful event could be held here today thanks to the game-changing policies” for Maraş, also known as Varosha.