INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL of SPORTS from CULTURAL TRADITION

The Tunisian Association for Savegarding Heritage Games and Sports organized an international meeting from October 9 to 11, under the auspic...

The Tunisian Association for Savegarding Heritage Games and Sports organized an international meeting from October 9 to 11, under the auspices of the CNOT (Tunisian Olympic Committee), to promote traditional games in general. The invitations focused on traditional wrestling in order to highlight Tunisia's traditional 'Grech' wrestling for a promotional campaign at the school level.

The word Grech probably comes from Guresh, or Kuresh, which means wrestling in the Turkic languages ​​(Tunisia was under Ottoman rule for several centuries).

Several federations, mainly European, responded to the invitation, and delegations from Iceland, England, France, Italy, Spain, North Macedonia, and Romania were present with the Tunisians. Romania also sent a strong female delegation of their national sport, the game of Oina (bat game).

The PROGRAM included a seminar on Friday at the CNOT head office. This was very enriching, according to the participants themselves, who had to speak several languages to communicate.

A presentation of the Cumberland Wrestling organization in the north of England was given by Matthew Lamont, the new champion in the 13-stone category.

Then, on Saturday, the PROGRAM included a festival on the main Avenue de Tunis, in the city center.

Demonstrations of various traditional sports were offered, as well as initiations of the styles for visitors (the public).

The large delegation from the Oina federation was able to showcase many facets of their sport. Athletes from the various delegations then demonstrated numerous wrestling styles.