Thousands gather in camels' bout
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Doğan News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 06, 2009 00:00
BODRUM - Muğla hosted another round of camel wrestling events on the weekend, but this time the giant animals fought for a good cause.
The events at Ortakent in the popular holiday district of Bodrum were held to raise awareness to protect the famous Bodrum citrus and promote it nationwide.More than 100 camels were hardly handles during the 15th edition of the famous camel-wrestling event, which was watched by 4,000 spectators. Most of the camels were brought from southern and western cities such as Denizli, Muğla, Aydın, İzmir, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Manisa and Antalya.
A tourism agent from Bodrum, Hüseyin Sarsılmaz, enjoyed his five camels’ victories on home soil. Sarsılmaz’s Florida, Fay Hattı, Vatos, Çılgın Sarsılmaz and renowned champion Yalı Çapkını won their bouts and made the local owner proud. A camel owner for 20 years, Sarsılmaz said that five camels are worth half a million euros.
"The most expensive one costs 120,000 euros and five of them are worth 500,000 euros total," he said. "This is a great hobby for me: To feed them, make them grow and see them wrestle."
Apparently, his investment in camels pays off with victories. His camels have been almost invincible in recent bouts. "In the last five years, my camels won 65 bouts and were drawn five times," said the businessman. "They were never beaten."
Ortakent Mayor Mehmet Kocadon was happy and proud but with a different reason, saying that the events were a success. "There is great interest in camel wrestling, despite the cold weather," said Kocadon. "This event is good for rejuvenating tourism and for continuing a great immortal tradition, in association with our people."
He also underlined the main purpose of the event. "We are here to save the Bodrum citrus," Kocadon said. "The total income gained here will be used in saving Bodrum citrus and helping to promote it."
A tourism agent from Bodrum, Hüseyin Sarsılmaz, enjoyed his five camels’ victories on home soil. Sarsılmaz’s Florida, Fay Hattı, Vatos, Çılgın Sarsılmaz and renowned champion Yalı Çapkını won their bouts and made the local owner proud. A camel owner for 20 years, Sarsılmaz said that five camels are worth half a million euros.
"The most expensive one costs 120,000 euros and five of them are worth 500,000 euros total," he said. "This is a great hobby for me: To feed them, make them grow and see them wrestle."
Apparently, his investment in camels pays off with victories. His camels have been almost invincible in recent bouts. "In the last five years, my camels won 65 bouts and were drawn five times," said the businessman. "They were never beaten."
Ortakent Mayor Mehmet Kocadon was happy and proud but with a different reason, saying that the events were a success. "There is great interest in camel wrestling, despite the cold weather," said Kocadon. "This event is good for rejuvenating tourism and for continuing a great immortal tradition, in association with our people."
He also underlined the main purpose of the event. "We are here to save the Bodrum citrus," Kocadon said. "The total income gained here will be used in saving Bodrum citrus and helping to promote it."