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1- ATHLETICS
ISTANBUL MARATHON is an international athletics event.It is the only course in the world where the marathon includes two continents, Asia and Europe, in one race. The marathon starts on the Asian side and ends on the European side.
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The Istanbul marathon took place for the first time in 1979 and is located in Turkey; there is one marathon every year. What makes the marathon special is that you cross the bridge between 2 continents in one single race.
An interesting fact is that the marathon was created at the occasion of the Olympic Games in 1896 by a French philosopher to commemorate a Greek messenger who traveled the distance of 42,195km to announce the victory against the Persians in 490 before J.C.
Organizations expected a record-breaking amount of people in 2012. In fact, 120,000 people ran on the Bosphorus Bridge.
It is worth all the training if you finish in the first 25 as you can win a price up to 50,000$ if you finish first, 25,000$ for the runner up and still 15,000$ if you finish third, and this is for both, women and men. But also a category for disabled people exists and they can win up to 5,000$.
(by the French group)
The Instabul Marathon is an international athletic event in Instabul,Turkey,every year on a Sunday to November. It is the only course in the world where the marathon includes two continents , Asia and Europe.To register for the marathon, people who participate must be over 18 yeatrs of age. There are three categories .One for men , another one for women and the last is a special category for people with special needs. The first 25 male athletes and 15 best females athletes get money for prizes. Record for men was set by Mages Taye of Ethiopia in 2 hours and 13 minutes and 37 seconds ( 1997) and for women by Madina Biktagirova of Russia in 2:34:35 (2005). (Nancy,Housein, Greece)
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Istanbul Marathon is a very popular event in the world. It involves people from many countries and perhaps from around the world since 1979. Each year, participants are more and more. They are running through the streets of the city for their own pleasure. This is an event to promote healthy, active lifestyle. The most amazing is that these people are doing it not for the money but for themselves.
(by the Polish group)
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2- SOCIAL
In May 2013, plans to replace the park with a shopping mall sparked the nationwide 2013 protests in Turkey.A wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Turkey began on 28 May 2013 and ended on June 15 with the clearance of the park.
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"They don't like trees, because trees don't generate a profit. Even the smallest city gardens and parks are now seen as a possibility for investment." Former head gardener of Gezi Park Cemal Özay
The protest movement began on 28 May in Istanbul with a sit-in of about fifty residents which quickly combined hundreds of thousands of protesters in 78 of the 81 Turkish provinces. Protest movements are initially led by environmentalists and local residents who opposed the destruction of Taksim Gezi Park. This park is one of the few central Istanbul green areas. The construction project involves the reconstruction of the barracks Taksim, a historic building demolished in 1940 to accommodate a shopping center. The protesters came from diverse backgrounds. We found right supporters as well as the left, Turkish nationalists but also Kurds. The protests have also spread to other cities in Turkey and in other countries with large Turkish communities. Some of the demonstrators identified themselves as tag # OccupyGezi. Police suppressed the protests with tear gas and water cannons. In addition to the 11 deaths and over 8000 injuries, more than 3000 arrests were made. The green spaces need to be preserved because the nature is important. The State must be listening to its people.
(by the French group)
On 28 May 2013, a huge wave of demonstrations began in Turkey. People were against the urban development plan for Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park. Without leadership beyond the small assembly that organised the environmental protest, the protests have been compared to the occupy movement and the events that happened in May 1968. 3,5 million of Turkey's 80 million estimated to have taken part in almost 5,000 demonstrations all over Turkey. 11 people were killed and other 8,000 were injured. On 15 June, protesters organised to meet in other parks all around Turkey to discuss ways for the protests. Also, the Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the protesters on June 2 and police attacked the protests with tear gas and water cannons, following the 3,000 arrests that were made. European Union and a lot of other countries were against the police attack but they didn't interfere because they didn't want to cause national security issues. Finally, the government didn't demolish the park to build a new shopping mall and the protests are characterised as the most crowded nationwide in decades.(by Dimitris Tasios, Dimitris Psaradelis, Greece)
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The protest has caused much confusion among ecologists and environmentalists. They wanted to stop the degradation of the environment and stop the activists who promote this type of behavior. The protests have also spread to other cities in Turkey, and protests have been seen in other countries with significant Turkish communities, including the European countries, the U.S. and the far-east Asia. This event provoked a lot of attacks and unpleasantness.
(by the Polish group)
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3- ENVIRONMENTAL
The 1999 İzmit earthquake (also known as the Kocaeli or Gölcük earthquake) occurred with a moment magnitude of 7.4 that struck northwestern Turkey on 17 August.
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"We all survived! It was a miracle! Most of the downstairs neighbors are dead. I have been here since morning. Hopefully tonight, we will be able to sleep in a tent." Earthquake survivor
On the night of 17th August 1999, an earthquake happened in Turkey. It is called the Kocaeli or Gölcük earthquake. This seism hit the regions of Gölcuk, Bolu, Yalova, Istanbul, Kocaley, Zonguldak. This tragedy had killed 17, 127 people and 43,959 injured.
Consequences
- 30, 000 houses were really damaged
- Unfortunately 300, 000 people were left homeless after the earthquake
- There was extensive damage to several bridges and other structures on the Trans-European Motorway.
- The quake provoked a disastrous fire at the Tüpraş petroleum refinery.
- The earthquake caused a tsunami in the Sea of Marmara that was about 2.5 meters high.
Some countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova gave 6.5 billion U.S. dollars damage for Istanbul.
We think that for the Turkish population, it has been difficult to cope with this natural disaster in view of the terrible consequences. We are thankful to the countries which financially helped turkey. Thanks to this, they have repaired at least the most serious damage.
(by the French group)
Izmit earthquake of 1999, also called Kocaeli earthquake or Golcuk earthquake was the most powerful and devastating earthquake that ever struck.
It is reported by many sources that dead people were closer to 45,000. Many houses were damaged, 2,000 other buldings collapsed and 300,000 people were left homeless.
The epicentre of earthquake was about 11 km southeast of Izmit and it registered a magnitude of 7.4.
It is admirable that Greece provided immediate support which was α chance to improve the contentious relationship between the two countries.
(Nancy, Greece)
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The protest has caused much confusion among ecologists and environmentalists. They wanted to stop the degradation of the environment and stop the activists who promote this type of behavior. The protests have also spread to other cities in Turkey, and protests have been seen in other countries with significant Turkish communities, including the European countries, the U.S. and the far-east Asia. This event provoked a lot of attacks and unpleasantness.
(by the Polish group)
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4- POLITICAL
The 12 September 1980 Turkish coup d'état.
The 12 September 1980 Turkish coup d'état, by Chief of the General Staff General Kenan Evren,in the 1970s was marked by right-wing/left-wing armed conflicts between U.S. and Soviet Union. The Turkish army allowed these conflicts to continue and this resulted in violent riots. The coup d'état was welcomed so that order could be restored. Hundreds of people were caught, tortured and some died in prison. It took 3 years (while the turkish army was in control of the country) for the democracy to be restored.(By Nickos Rinis from Greece)
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On 12 September 1980, the Turkish army led by General Kenan Evran, the Chief of General Staff, organize the third coup d’état in the history of the Turkish Republic. The pretext for the coup was to put an end to the social conflicts of the 1970s. During three years, The Turkish Armed Forces ruled the country. The National Security Council abolished the Parliament and the government, suspended the Constitution and banned all political parties and trade unions, newspapers were destroyed (approximately 39 tones) and censorship. During this period, 50 people were executed, 500,000 were arrested and hundreds died in prison. The violence was used to established submission. Torture was used too. The Economy was extremely affected, it was on the verge of collapse. Then a total of 1,683,000 people were blacklisted. In June 1982 a new Constitution was adopted by referendum and on 6 November 1983, Kenan Evran organized elections and he was elected President. It was the transition to the democracy and the end of Turkish coup d’état.
(by Arthur COQUET, Rosalie LITZLER, Manon VALENTIN)
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The 12 September 1980 Turkish coup. The organization is responsible for a significant number of political murders and kidnappings of Turkish and Kurdish human rights activists, is infamous from the relations between the Turkish mafia organizations.
(by the Polish group)
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5- CULTURAL
GRAND BAZAAR- The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.
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The Grand Bazaar is located inside the Walled City of Istanbul, it is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops. It is the world's most-visited tourist attraction with around 91 million annual visitors. The Bazaar was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The Bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.
The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. In the centre is the high domed hall ,the most valuable items and antiques were to be found in the past, there we can find things like furniture, copperware, pearl mirrors, water pipes, watches and clocks, candlesticks, old coins, and silver and gold jewellery set with coral and turquoise.
The Grand Bazaar has four main gates situated at the ends of its two major streets which intersect near the southwestern corner of the Bazaar.
(by the French group)
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The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. There is a huge selection of different items. Everyone will surely find something for them and their loved ones.
(by the Polish group)
Kapalicarsi (Grand Bazaar) has been an important trading centre since 1461 constructed by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and enlarged in the 16th century during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In 1894 it was restored after a major earthquake that hit Turkey. G. Bazaar is famous for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antiques shops. Inside the Bazaar, there are 2 mosques, 4 fountains, 2 hamams and several cafes and restaurants. It takes the visitors hours to explore all stalls and shops and to bargain for purchases. But it is certainly worth spending your time there and experience the romantic, oriental atmoshpere. (by Dimitris Tasios, John Psomas, Greece)
One of the best spices in the world are in Turkey and therefore more delicious meals. I know that turkish meals are so delicious because I am a Muslim. My best dish is kebap because it has a lot of spices in it and that makes me love it! (by Huseyin Chasan, Greece)
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