No money, no problem for local competitions

Despite the organizers’ struggles to attract outside financing, the Lycian Challenge adventure race will be held for the first time in Muğla’s Fethiye district June 20-21.

Held by the Lycia Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Club, the organization will bring domestic and international teams together for a difficult but entertaining adventure that will include a combination of disciplines from trekking and canoeing to mountain biking, climbing and orienteering.

Despite its high expectations, the organization could not attract the attention of either the local authorities or governmental organizations and as a result will not receive any outside financial support. The Lycia Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Club struggles to finance the organization with its limited resources while the club’s volunteers and sports fans do most of the work on their own.

Events to contribute to promotion of the area

"Held in Fethiye for the first time this year, the first International Lycian Challenge will definitely contribute much to the publicity of the district besides offering an unforgettable sports fest," said Bora Borçin, a member of the club and the organizing committee. "But we cannot get any outside financial support for this organization. Neither the Fethiye people nor the institutions know much about the Lycian Challenge, so they are not willing to make any kind of contribution to the organization." They also could not get any aid from the Fethiye Municipality, Borçin added.

Emre Acar, general director of the club, further said they had talked to the municipality authorities before, but they were not willing to financially support the organization in any way.

"I suppose they have more important things to do than to help the district host an international organization and become known on the international sports stage," Acar added.

Authorities from the Fethiye Municipality were hesitant to talk about the issue, but they said they had not been given any information about the organization.


Aiming to diversify tourism

The members of the Lycia Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Club see this organization as a social responsibility project that will not only put the Fethiye district on the map but will also train new sportsmen who have experience in many sports disciplines.

The organization expects to diversify tourism in the region, or rather to create a new branch of tourism by combining it with nature sports.

"Our only aim is to show that Fethiye is capable of hosting such a big and highly regarded international organization. We want to show that ’We can do it,’" said Acar, who invited every sports lover to attend this organization.

"We, as Lycia Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Club, worked hard to bring this important organization to Fethiye. Our members have been preparing the race courses, maps and every necessary step in the field for two months. We do not claim that we are professionals," Acar said. "Just to the contrary, we are doing all these with our amateur spirits without getting any financial support from any person or foundation. We will see what will happen."

Agreeing with Acar that is a long-term project and that they are willing to make this project a traditional international race and put it on the calendar of international adventure races, Borçin added that the Lycian Challenge will force participants to test their physical and psychological abilities and endurance.

So far, four teams have applied to take part in the challenge, but more than 30 teams are expected to complete their applications. The lower age limit is 18, but those between the ages of 14 and18 can also join with their parents’ permission. Teams may include men, women or be mixed, the members said.

While the teams tend to come mainly from Istanbul and Ankara, the number of foreign attendants is also rising every day.

Right on track for the win

The challenge includes three tracks: the difficult track, which includes running, cycling, trekking, orienteering, sea kayaking, cannoning, camping and takes two days; the medium track, which includes trekking, orienteering and cycling; and the easy track, which includes orienteering and trekking and takes one day.

The Turkish Radio and Television Corp., or TRT, will be broadcast the race for two days. The TRT will also make a documentary film about the race that will be broadcast at the beginning of July.

For more information:

www.lycianchallenge.com,

www.adventureracesoflikya.com

www.likyadag.org