"Ancestral soil" to be carried by athletes to Ankara was delivered to Türkiye
19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day activities within the scope of the organisation organised by the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association and Ipsala District Governorship, the soil taken from the garden of the house where Atatürk was born in Thessaloniki was brought by the Consulate General of Komotini to Ipsala Border Gate by car.
At the ceremony held at the border gate, the soil wrapped in the Turkish flag was handed over to the athletes of Istanbul Masterleri Athletics Sports Club who participated in the Atatürk Commemoration and Peace Run.
Ipsala District Governor Ömer Sevgili, in his speech at the ceremony, expressed his satisfaction for the organisation of an important event in Ipsala.
Stating that they will deliver the soil to the athletes to be taken to Ankara, Mr Sevgili said: "Through our Consulates General, soil is taken from the house where Atatürk was born and brought here from there. The Consulate General delivers it to us. We deliver it to the athletes. The most important thing here is that our young people, our athletes who feel young, deliver the soil to our ancestor. May their path be clear."
Consul General of Komotini Aykut Ünal stated that the behaviours of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk throughout his life shed light on them.
Giving examples from Atatürk's life, Ünal said: "The National Struggle took place in a period of darkness and despair. Look what Atatürk said at the beginning of the national struggle: 'We will leave everything to the youth. That youth will not forget anything, they are the luminous flowers of the future. All my hope is in the youth.' In other words, the energy of the foundation of the Republic in the National Struggle is clear. Of course, the ways to explain the great Atatürk are endless. The important thing is to understand, to take him as an example, to see and think like him."
Hasan Küçük, President of the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association, stated that the independence movement started by Atatürk from Samsun spread wave by wave all over the country with the perseverance and determination of the Turkish nation and resulted in victory.
Küçük emphasised that the Republic of Türkiye, which was established with great devotion in the face of hardship and poverty with thousands of martyrs, was entrusted to the youth and that it is the greatest duty and responsibility of the youth to protect and keep this precious trust alive forever.
After the poem and folk dances performed, the "Ancestral soil" delivered to the athletes set off for Ankara.
