Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Turkey.
Curated from various news sources.
🧿 LOCAL NEWS
3rd Babadağ Ultra Marathon Takes Place in Fethiye
The Fethiye Babadağ Ultra Marathon, organised for the third time this year, took place with colourful scenes and fierce competitions. The event, held in cooperation with the Turkish Athletics Federation, Fethiye District Governorship, Fethiye Municipality, Babadağ Cable Car, and the Babadağ Ultra Marathon Organization, hosted approximately 500 athletes from 15 different countries.
Athletes competed on 56-kilometre, 26-kilometre, and 15-kilometre courses across unique natural and historical locations such as the Lycian Way, Kayaköy, and Babadağ Summit. Battling challenging stages full of trails, steep climbs, and descents, participants experienced a marathon deeply connected with nature.
Babadağ Ultra Marathon Organization Manager Serkan Özdemir, speaking about the event, said, “We successfully launched our third Baba Ultra Trail race today. Our first long stage of 56 kilometres started at 07:00 in the morning. Immediately after, we began the 15-kilometre Kayran Dragon stage at 08:00. Later in the day, we kicked off the 26-kilometre Babadağ downhill race.
Participation was significantly higher this year — we doubled the number of athletes compared to last year. We had exactly 500 athletes from fifteen different countries. They took part in an exciting race, running along the historic Lycian Way, passing through Kayaköy, and reaching the Babadağ Summit. Everything proceeded smoothly.”
Participants had a fantastic time running in such beautiful surroundings and contributed to sports tourism in the region. In the cool and pleasant weather of April, those wanting to welcome the summer season with sport enjoyed a perfect atmosphere.
On the second day, the 9:30 a.m. Kayaköy stage began, along with a 2-kilometre children’s run featuring 160 young athletes. Organised just after April 23rd, the event allowed children to experience the excitement of racing as part of National Sovereignty Week celebrations.
Additionally, 150 athletes competed in a 5-kilometre public run. With the completion of two stages on Sunday and the three stages run on the first day, the five-stage race event was successfully concluded.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-3-babadag-ultra-maratonu-basladi
Çırpı Picnic Area Cleaned by Municipality Teams
The recreation area in Çırpı District of Fethiye once again came to public attention due to pollution. Fethiye Municipality Cleaning Services teams completed a comprehensive clean-up of the area and called on citizens to show greater environmental sensitivity.
Located in Esenköy District, Çırpı had turned into a dumping ground, with waste such as alcohol bottles, food packaging, beverage cans, and even baby diapers left behind by visitors enjoying weekend picnics by the stream.
Following a report aired by Fethiye TV that highlighted the pollution problem, the Fethiye Municipality Cleaning Services Directorate quickly took action. Under the coordination of Field Manager Ramazan Ongün, cleaning teams carried out an extensive clean-up operation, restoring the natural beauty of the area.
The municipality reminded citizens of the importance of protecting the environment and urged everyone to keep public spaces clean for future generations.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/gundeme-gelen-cirpi-mesire-alani-belediye-ekiplerince-temizlendi
Tobacco Control Inspections Carried Out in Commercial Vehicles in Fethiye
In Fethiye, the District Health Directorate inspection team and traffic teams conducted inspections and awareness activities as part of efforts to prevent and control the harms caused by tobacco products.
During the operation held on Atatürk Street, in cooperation with the Fethiye District Health Directorate and traffic teams, commercial vehicles were placed under particular scrutiny. Informative brochures were distributed to drivers, and inspections were carried out to ensure that legal warning signs regarding tobacco use were visible and complied with the legislation.
Teams also checked for the illegal use of tobacco products within vehicles. As part of the “Smoke-Free Air Zone” initiative, officials reminded drivers of their legal responsibilities and emphasised the importance of avoiding tobacco use to support a healthier living environment.
Authorities stated that inspections would continue at regular intervals and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting public health through ongoing education and enforcement efforts.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-ticari-araclarda-tutun-denetimi
Olive Saplings Planted Hope for the Future in Fethiye
The Fethiye Local Seeds Association, in collaboration with Özel Tarhan College in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, organised a meaningful sapling planting event at Kabaağaç Primary School. During the event, 630 olive saplings were planted in the gardens of five families, creating colourful and hopeful scenes with the participation of 30 students, four teachers, and school principals.
Continuing the bridge of friendship established in 2022, the Fethiye Local Seeds Association has strengthened its ties with Özel Tarhan College. Two years ago, the association planted 570 olive saplings in the gardens of families affected by the Kabaağaç fire, and this year, they further supported the region by planting 630 more. The association also ensures the sustainable growth of the saplings by regularly monitoring their care and responding to the needs of the families.
Kabaağaç Primary School has been recognised as a sister school by Özel Tarhan College. Beyond sapling planting, the association supports the school with books, stationery, and seed projects, enhancing educational and environmental development hand-in-hand.
Fethiye Local Seeds Association President Ebru Oğuzhan Yeter, speaking after the event, said, “This bridge of friendship is getting stronger every year. With our sapling plantings, we are making a contribution to both nature and the local community. We have already started planning next year’s activities — we will continue to plant olives, no matter what.”
Yeter expressed her gratitude to all those who made the event a success, especially Fethiye Chamber of Agriculture President Kenan Karayiğit, Agricultural Engineer Gökçen Sertkaya Güven, former and current headman Durmuş Cesur, Kabaağaç Primary School, and the dedicated volunteer women.
Source: https://www.fethiyetv.com/fethiyede-zeytin-fidanlari-gelecege-umut-dikti
🧿 NEWS FROM AROUND TURKEY
Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey celebrates historic 60th edition
The Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey is celebrating a major milestone this year as it kicks off its 60th edition, marking the start of a new decade and a fresh chapter in the event’s storied history.
Speaking to Anadolu, Vladimiros Petsas, events coordinator at the European Cycling Union and race director of the tour, emphasized the significance of reaching 60 editions.
He said not many races around the world have achieved this, noting that while classics like the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France are older, the Tour of Turkey’s longevity reflects strong dedication and resilience.
“It is particularly important because it marks the beginning of a new decade, symbolizing a fresh start and continued growth for the event,” said Petsas.
He praised the strength of the 2025 lineup, which features top riders from WorldTour, ProTour, and Continental levels, promising “a thrilling race” for cycling fans.
Previous editions of the tour saw top-tier riders such as Mark Cavendish and Jasper Philipsen.
Petsas also expressed his appreciation for the warm reception from the Turkish public.
He said he felt like being among friends who share the same passion in Turkey, reflecting on his many years of involvement with the tour.
“I have been coming to Turkey for many years, although I don’t even remember exactly how long. We are always working to deliver the best organization possible for Turkey,” he said.
The event, originally launched as the Marmara Tour in 1963, gained international status in 1965 and later came under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, growing into one of the region’s most prestigious races.
Starting from Antalya on April 27, cyclists will cover 1,153 kilometers over eight stages, passing through renowned Turkish tourism hotspots such as Kemer, Kalkan, Fethiye, Marmaris, Akyaka, Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, and Cesme, before concluding the race in Izmir on May 4.
The 2025 edition will see 161 cyclists from 23 teams across 13 countries and three continents competing. The race will be broadcast live internationally on Eurosport and domestically on TRT Spor, helping to showcase Türkiye’s beauty and cycling culture to a global audience.
Source: Anadolu Agency
AFAD records 266 aftershocks after 6.2 magnitude Istanbul quake
6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Silivri in the Marmara Sea at 12:49 p.m. local time on April 23, sending tremors across Istanbul and nearby provinces in Turkey.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at a depth of approximately 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) and lasted 13 seconds.
The earthquake, which originated from a segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone running through the central Marmara region, was felt in cities up to 300 kilometers from the epicenter.
As of 9:00 a.m. of April 24, a total of 266 aftershocks had been recorded after the 6.2 magnitude earthquake, of these, 258 measured between 0 and 4 in magnitude, 7 were between 4 and 5, and one aftershock registered above magnitude 5.
While Turkey continues efforts to rebuild provinces devastated by past earthquakes, experts call for faster and coordinated action to strengthen and retrofit Istanbul’s vulnerable building stock to prevent future devastation.
Source: Daily Sabah
🧿 SPORT
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Match Results
Fethiyespor lost their away match against 24 Erzincanspor on Sunday. The final score was 2-0.
Fethiyespor move up to at 9th position in the league table.
League Matches
Saturday, 3 May, at home against Sincan Belediyesi Ankaraspor. Kick-off time is 15:00.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 51.15 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 50.43 TL.
The US Dollar bought 38.42 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 38.02 TL.
The Euro bought 43.81 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 41.23 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
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