Get to grips with Turkey

Tourists keen to catch a glimpse of some well-oiled torsos and tight leather trousers should fly to Turkey for the annual yagli gures festival, otherwise known as the oil wrestling festival of Kirkpinar.

Held just outside the historic town of Erdine in western Turkey, from June 23rd to 26th the yearly championship is both the oldest wrestling tournament in the world and the national sport of Turkey, attracting over 1000 competitors each year.

The festival, which has been held on the site for 650 years, is a week-long sudden-death style wrestling tournament that sees challengers take to the grass of the stadium dressed only in leather trousers and a slick of olive oil.

The history of the sport reportedly dates back to the campaign launched by Ottoman sultan Orhan Gazi into what is now the Greek/Turkish/Bulgarian border region, during which time the warriors started wrestling for fun.

The legend tells of two soldiers who fought so long and hard that they both died from exhaustion and were buried under a fig tree. When the soldiers visited the burial site years later, they noticed that several springs had sprung up on the site and named the place Kirkpinar (Forty Springs).

The tournament rituals still include prayers for the two dead wrestlers.

• Exeter Airport toasts record-breaking month
• New Zealand 'must stay clean and green'
• Portugal 'a world leader in golf tourism'
• Pata: Safe to travel to Thailand
• Brits 'prefer activities to relaxation'
• Gustav not as severe as first feared
• New Zealand celebrates 'top country' award
• Booking early 'could save £1,000'
• Australian town picks up hat-trick of awards
• Holidaymakers 'to save money by tipping less'