Okçular (Archers) Foundation and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü have set off to introduce Turkish archery to the world.

Okçular Foundation that works for ancestral sports, primarily archery, to be understood with their national, historical, sportive, artistic, cultural and educational aspects and embraced as a cultural awareness, and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü that presents the wealth and values of Turkey with 54 Enstitü centres in 61 countries in 5 continents, realize te Kemankeş Project to promote Turkish archery around the world.

The project to be carried out 16 countries in its first year, will begin with traditional Turkish archery training in Istanbul Okçular Foundation Sport and Culture Centre with participation of athletes from Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres in Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Morocco, Palestine, Iran, Japan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Lebanon, Malaysia, Egypt, Poland, Serbia, Sudan and Jordan.

Kemankeş project aims not only to introduce Turkish archery to the world, but also to bring new athletes to our ancestral sport.

Young athletes will receive an intensive archery training in the facilities where Okçular Lodge, established in Ok Square upon a decree by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, is located. Okçular Lodge is a centre of science and knowledge that has served for centuries with foundation culture, and athletes will get the opportunity to experience Turkish culture in an authentic atmosphere. The facilities include open and closed training areas, training classes, fitness hall, cafeteria and the largest shooting range in the world dedicated to archery.

The athletes who will return to their countries after intensive training, will train archery enthusiasts in courses held within the context of “Traditional Turkish Archery” curriculum in classes prepared at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres in their respective countries using sources and entirely hand-made archery materials which is the second phase of the project. Anyone interested in Turkish culture may receive training in archery classes at certain times at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres and make target practice.

YUNUS EMRE ENSTİTÜSÜ CENTRES TO ORGANIZE TURKISH ARCHERY ACTIVITIES

Another phase of the project consists of seminars, exhibitions and performances on traditional Turkish archery to be organized in 16 countries. While archery courses continue at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres, the teachers known for their knowledge and studies in the field, and figures known for their mastery and skill in shooting will visit centres and participate in activities such as seminars and performances in order to introduce our ancestral sport to larger masses and make it popular. With the exhibitions, traditional Turkish archery will be displayed with its history, culture and all its finesse.

ARCHERS TO COMPETE IN ISTANBUL

The last phase of the Kemankeş Project will be complete when people who will have participated in archery courses held at Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centres, demonstrate their skills in the major competition to be organized in Istanbul. The most successful trainees who will attend the archery courses in 16 countries, will be qualified to participate in the Turkish Summer School program in which Yunus Emre Enstitüsü hosts around 700 students from nearly 60 countries each year, and will visit a number of historical, geographical and cultural sites as well as receiving Turkish language instruction for one month. They will also participate in cultural courses such as marbling, pottery, cooking, baglama, and folk dances. The athletes to participate in the competition organized by Okçular Foundation and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü will compete both individually and as a team.