Sport in Northern Cyprus

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Culture of Northern Cyprus
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* Turkish Cypriots
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* Lefkara lace
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There are 29 sports federations in Northern Cyprus and 13,838 people registered in them as of 2008. Taekwondo-karate-aikido-kurash is the most popular sport with 6054 athletes. It is followed by association football (2240 athletes), shooting (1150 athletes) and hunting (1017 athletes).[1]

Due to the lack of international recognition, Northern Cyprus is not a member of some international sporting bodies.

Some Northern Cyprus sport clubs participate in Turkey's sport leagues. For example: the Fast Break Sport Club, in Turkey's Men's Basketball Regional League; the Beşparmak Sport Club, in Turkey's Handball Premier League; and the Lefka European University, in Turkey's Table-tennis Super League. The international record for swimming 75 km between Turkey and Northern Cyprus belongs to Turkish national Alper Sunaçoğlu (completed in 26 hours and 15 minutes).[2]

## International participation and achievements

[edit]

### Badminton

[edit]

* Badminton Federation of North Cyprus is an observer member of World Badminton Federation and European Badminton Confederation.

### Basketball

[edit]

* The men's basketball Super League operates since 1981.
* In May 2015, the national basketball team played two friendly matches against Abkhazia, losing the first one by 59–76[3] and winning the second one by 59–47.[4] Both matches were played in Northern Cyprus.
* In April 2017, Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi became champions in the FIBA EuroCup Women. Since Northern Cyprus is not a member of FIBA, Northern Cypriot Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi registered in Turkey's basketball league to compete in FIBA Eurocup.[5]

### Billiards

[edit]

* Billiards Federation of North Cyprus (BFNC) is a member of the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).[6] The national teams of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus played each other in an international sport tournament for the first time in the 2010 European billiards championships in Kielce, Poland.[7][8] The country, North Cyprus, is also a member of World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Union Mondial de Billard.[9]
* 2014 Dynamic Billard European Championships (with 32 participating countries) was hosted by Northern Cyprus.[10]

### Bocce

[edit]

* Bocce Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International Bocce Association.

### Bodybuilding

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* Bodybuilding and Fitness: 2010: Yakup Çavuşgil became World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (WBFF) champion in the championship in Canada.

### Darts

[edit]

* The team of Northern Cyprus Darts Federation became third in darts championship in Spain.[11]

### EasyKart

[edit]

* EasyKart Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International EasyKart Federation.[12] 2008: Zeka Özteknik became International Easykart champion in 125cc.[13]

### Football

[edit]

Main articles: Football in Northern Cyprus and Northern Cyprus national football team

* In 1975, FIFA general-secretary Helmut Kaser granted permission for Cyprus Turkish Football Federation to play friendly internationals against FIFA countries, but not competitive games; this permission was abolished in 1983 when Northern Cyprus was declared.[14][15]
* The Turkish Cypriot Football Federation administers a football league in Northern Cyprus.
* Northern Cyprus is among the countries listed by the FIFA Working Committee on Small Nations.[16][17]
* Northern Cyprus is a member of Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA).[18]
* In September 2014, Demetris Vasiliou became the first Greek Cypriot football player to sign for a team in the Northern Cypriot league. He plays for Değirmenlik (team of Kythrea).[19][20] Greek Cypriot nationalists labelled him a "traitor" and surrounded his home, preventing him from attending his first match with the team.[21][22] Vasiliou said he received death threats. He also lost his job as youth coach of Omonia Aradippou.[23]
* CONIFA Euro 2017 will be hosted by Northern Cyprus.[24]

### Football Tennis

[edit]

* Football Tennis Association of North Cyprus is a member of the Federation International de Footballtennis Association.[25] Northern Cyprus placed 6th in the 9th World Footballtennis Championship[26]
* The 2011 European FootballTennis Championship was hosted by Northern Cyprus.[27]
* The 2014 World FootballTennis Championship was hosted by Northern Cyprus in 19–24 October.[28]

### Gymnastics

[edit]

* Turkish Cypriot Gymnastic Federation administers the related activities in the country.

### Handball

[edit]

* Handball Federation of Northern Cyprus administers a league in the country.

### Shooting

[edit]

* Shooting: TRNC Shooting Federation participated in Airgun Championships 2011 in Bisley, UK and the team became 2nd.[29]

### Martial arts

[edit]

* Federation of North Cyprus is a member of Global Taekwon-do Federation (GTF).[30]
* The 9th GTF World Championship in 2013 was hosted by North Cyprus.[31]
* The headquarters of "Eurasia Taekwondo Federations Union" is in Kyrenia of Northern Cyprus.[32][33]
* Judo, Hapkido and Kickboxing federation of Northern Cyprus became a member of International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) in 2011.[34]
* 14th Euro-Asia Taekwon-Do Championships and First World Budo Martialarts Championships will be organized in Northern Cyprus in 2014.[35]
* Northern Cyprus participated to the World Kickboxing Championship organized by International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) in 2015.[36]

### Tennis

[edit]

* Eliz Maloney Yorganci from Tennis Federation of Northern Cyprus became champion in the 2014 UK Masters 14U Tennis Tournament.[37]

### Volleyball

[edit]

* Volleyball Federation of Northern Cyprus administers a league in the country.

### Wrestling

[edit]

* Northern Cyprus is an associate a member of United World Wrestling, previously known as FILA.[38] The UWW Bureau members raised no objection to the application of Northern Cyprus in 2008.[39]

### Multi-sport events

[edit]

* On 18 May 2010 Northern Cyprus became a member of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).[40]

## Membership of international sports federations

[edit]

See also: Membership of Northern Cyprus in international organizations

Northern Cyprus has gained membership of the following federations:

Entity | Notes | Status | Date

|
|
|

Federation International de Football-Tennis Association (FIFTA) | Northern Cyprus is a full member of FIFTA.[41] | Member |
Futsal European Federation | Northern Cyprus is a member.[42] | Member |
European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF) | Northern Cyprus (TNC) is a full member of EPBF.[43] | Member |
United World Wrestling (UWR) | Northern Cyprus is an associate member of UWR.[38][44] | Associate member | June 2011
World Pool-Billiard Association (WPBF) | Northern Cyprus is a member of the WPBF.[45] | Member |

## See also

[edit]

* Football in Northern Cyprus

## References

[edit]

1. ^ TRNC State Planning Organization. 2008 Yılı Makroekonomik ve Sektörel Gelişmeler, p.176-179.
2. ^ "Swimming record from Turkey to Northern Cyprus". Brtk.net. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
3. ^ Kibris Postasi 29 May 2015
4. ^ Spor Kibris Archived 2015-10-20 at the Wayback Machine 30 May 2015
5. ^ NEU Official Website...Representing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus at the EuroCup Women’s Basketball, ...
6. ^ European Pocket Billiard Federation's Members Archived 2012-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Billiard Federation of North Cyprus (BFNC) is a member of European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF)
7. ^ [1] 2010 European Billiard Championship Scoreboard
8. ^ Billiardapps North Cyprus - Cyprus match results
9. ^ UMB members
10. ^ European Pool Billard Federation official website Dynamic Billard European Championships Started
11. ^ Kibrispostasi The team of Northern Cyprus Darts Federation won third place in Spain
12. ^ International EasyKart Federation's Members Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine EasyKart Federation of North Cyprus is a member of International EasyKart Federation
13. ^ 2008 International Easykart Championship Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Zeka Özteknik of Northern Cyprus became champion.
14. ^ "Football Reunites in Cyprus". March 30, 2021.
15. ^ Daria Isachenko, The Making of Informal States: Statebuilding in Northern Cyprus and Transdniestria, p.189
16. ^ PlayTheGame
17. ^ "FIFA's potential new members" (PDF). www.playthegame.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2011.
18. ^ "NORTHERN CYPRUS". July 9, 2014.
19. ^ "Vasiliou to play in the north". Cyprus Mail. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
20. ^ "Değirmenlik Kulübü'nün dün kadrosuna kattığı Demetris Vasiliou, KTFF liglerinde forma giyen ilk Rum futbolcu olacak". Kıbrıs Gazetesi. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
21. ^ "Greek Cypriot footballer labelled traitor for joining Turkish Cypriot team". Worldbulletin. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
22. ^ Çevik, İlnur (30 September 2014). "Are Greek Cypriots ready to embrace Turks?". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
23. ^ Stevenson, Peter (6 October 2014). "Soccer-Sport back on the front-line of Cypriot political divide". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
24. ^ CONIFA 2017 Home Page of CONIFA Euro 2017
25. ^ Federation International Football ennis Association Members
26. ^ "North Cyprus became 6th in 9th World Footballtennis Championship".
27. ^ "2011 European FootballTennis Championship is in Northern Cyprus".
28. ^ 11th World Footballtennis Championship
29. ^ "NSRA.co.uk".
30. ^ GTF Members
31. ^ Star North Cyprus to host GTF World Championship in 2013
32. ^ "KKTC Taekwondo Judo Karate Aikido Hapkido Kung Fu Kurash Wushu Muaythai Federasyonu – AVRASYA TAEKWONDO FEDERASYONU".
33. ^ "KKTC Taekwondo Judo Karate Aikido Hapkido Kung Fu Kurash Wushu Muaythai Federasyonu – FEDERASYONUN TARİHÇESİ".
34. ^ ISKA Official website Welcome new member "North Cyprus" in the ISKA Family
35. ^ "GTF Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus – Official Invitation".
36. ^ [2] Northern Cyprus Judo, Hapkido and Kickbox Federation
37. ^ "LTA British Tennis".
38. ^ a b "Official FILA site". Fila-wrestling.com. 2006-05-01. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 2010-04-28.]
39. ^ UWW UWW President's note
40. ^ North Cyprus became a member of ISSF Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine NC is a member of ISSF.
41. ^ "Members".
42. ^ "Northern Cyprus".
43. ^ "Members of EPBF". EPBF.com. European Pocket Billiard Federation. July 27, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.[permanent dead link]
44. ^ "Wrestling body approves N Cyprus membership". Archived from the original on 2022-08-17. Retrieved 2024-12-21.
45. ^ "EPBF". Archived from the original on 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2022-08-17.

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Sports governing bodies in Northern Cyprus

Summer Olympic Sports|

* Aquatics
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Paralympics and Disabled Sports|

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National sports teams of Northern Cyprus

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Northern Cyprus articles

History|

* Cyprus dispute
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Geography|

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| Ethnicities|

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