Turkish Olympics Competitors' Performance Touches Deputies
Students competing in the Sixth International Turkish Language Olympics visited Parliament yesterday, performing for deputies and speaking with top figures in the legislature.
Deputies and reporters covering the event said they were moved by the performances, all in Turkish. Several reporters said they were affected by the poem "Mother," by Homaira Pyae Wen Naing of Myanmar and Raskil Kamas of Pakistan. Speaker of Parliament Köksal Toptan joked with a third competitor, saying, "I hope you'll recite another poem because if you recite this poem once more, I'll start to cry."
Toptan spoke while receiving ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Kahramanmaraş deputy Mehmet Saglam and his team, saying the war-weary world will experience peace because of the love found in the world's children. He welcomed the students to Turkey and said he was happy to receive all of the 550 students from 110 countries of the world who came to Turkey for the Sixth International Turkish Language Olympics.
"In our past, we have hosted all civilizations. We hosted all beliefs, all ideas — all together within a circle of love," Toptan said, adding that these students showed Turkey a larger version of this understanding with their gathering in Turkey. The speaker of Parliament continued, saying: "I hope you will maintain the friendships you have made here in your own countries, friends in your countries and you will bring about world peace as a consequence. The world has become a war-torn place due to war, poverty and misery. However, we think that it is possible to re-establish the future of the world, make all people in the future world smile again, considering the potential and the resources the world has. It is possible to use these resources honestly and efficiently. We believe it is you who will do this. No matter where you are from, we feel the same for all children of the world. We hosted children from 40 countries during our April 23, Children's Day, and are now hosting children from 110 countries. I hope we will host children from 150 countries next week and the following year children from the entire world. Please convey our greetings and best wishes to your countries."
Students visit Parliament in traditional dress
The students visited Parliament wearing their country's traditional clothes, creating a colorful atmosphere in the legislature. After Toptan's speech, each student introduced himself or herself and spoke a little about the country he or she came from. The students brought some presents for Toptan also. Munisai Safoviddin from Tajikistan brought a tea set, and Gülserem Saporova from Turkmenistan carried with her a Turkmen rug. (Ali Aslan Kiliç, Ankara)
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