Türkiye marks Youth and Sports Day, commemorates Atatürk

Today is Atatürk Memorial, Youth and Sports Day in Türkiye. May 19 marks the 104th anniversary of the start of the liberation war of the brotherly country.

According to TRT Haber, May 19, 1919, went down in history as the beginning of the War of Independence, which was fought under the slogan "either independence or death". Mustafa Kemal Atatürk addressed the Turkish youth in the city of Samsun, announcing a mobilisation against the troops occupying part of Türkiye. For him, the youth were the future and hope of the nation. The first step of the national struggle became a special symbol for the young people who rose up to defend the independence to which Atatürk had dedicated himself.

The Turkish War of Independence is characterised as the military and political struggle of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his supporters against foreign military intervention, which ended with the expulsion of the invaders and the establishment of a republican order.

The occupation of Izmir by the Greek army (May 19, 1919) is regarded as the commencement of the war; the Lausanne Peace Treaty (July 24, 1923) is regarded as the end of the war.

On this day, celebrations are organised all over the country.