“Our Flag To Cyprus With Our Strokes” Open Water Swimming Marathon was held on 19-20 July 2020. Organized under the leadership of Istanbul Yıldızlar Swimming Sports Club, the marathon started on 19.07.2020 with the entry of the State Former Minister Kürşad TÜZMEN into the water from Anamur Iskele, and covered a distance of 93.10 km in a total of 28 hours and 5 minutes. It was completed in Girne Yavuz Landing Beach at 11:05 on 20.07.2020.
In the team consisting of 6 athletes with open water swimming experience, Former Minister of State Kürşad TÜZMEN, World Master Swimming Champion Ahmet NAKKAŞ, Former National Swimmer and Artist Tarkan TÜZMEN, English Channel Double Crosser Team Athlete Faruk İLGÜY, Academician Associate Professor Kubilay ÇİMEN and TRNC athlete Osman AKKUŞ took part. Each swimmer swam alternately for one hour until the distance was completed. Athletes brought Turkish flag from Turkey and delivered it to TRNC Prime Minister Ersin TATAR with a ceremony at the Girne Yavuz Landing Beach.
The swimmers were accompanied by 2 Coast Guard Corps and 2 Emergency response boats throughout the course.
The main goal of this project, which took place on the 46th Anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, was to raise awareness by displaying a stance against the assimilation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in political, economic, legal processes and sports and artistic activities in the international arena.
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