Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire
Encyclopedia
Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire is refers Armenia
n Sport in the Ottoman Empire
.
The history of the development of Armenian sport and gymnastics in the Ottoman Empire takes its beginning from the end of 19th century, when the first athletic clubs and societies were established. Under the rule of the Sultan, being engaged in sports or athletics was strictly forbidden and those who broke this law were punished.
After the coup d'état of Young Turks in 1908, the first Armenian athletic clubs and football teams were formed in Constantinople and Smyrna. During this period the first professional Armenian sportsmen - Shavarsh Chrisian, Mkrtich Mkrian, Grigor Hakobian and others played significant role in propagating athletics among the Ottoman Armenians.
In 1911-1914, four Armenian Olympic Games were held in Constantinople
. From 1911 to 1914, Shavarsh Chrisyan published the "Marmnamarz" sports magazine, the first sports periodical in the Ottoman Empire.
For the first time in the history of Turkish Olympic Games, two Armenian sportsmen Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkryan represented Ottoman Turkey in the Fifth International Olympic Games in Stockholm
in 1912.
In 1915-1920, many Armenian sportsmen became victims of the genocide and most of the Armenian sports clubs were shut down.
A unique phenomenon in the history of sport of the Ottoman Empire was the participation of two Armenian sportsmen in the 5th International Olympic Games in Stockholm. Armenian athlets Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkrian became the first sportsmen who represented the Ottoman Empire in the International Olympic Games.
On the eve of World War I there were about 40 Armenian athletic clubs in Constantinople alone. Armenian football teams took part in team and international tournaments of several leagues in the capital. The most famous football teams were “Balta Liman”, “Araks” and “Torq”. The most famous team of Smyrna was “Hay Vorsordats Club” (“The Armenian Hunters’ club”). Armenian sport clubs were established also in Smyrna
(İzmir), Nicomedia
(İzmit), Karin
(Erzurum), Marzvan
(Merzifon), Samson
, Adana
, Van
, Caesarea
(Kayseri), Dortyol
(Dörtyol), Trapizon
(Trabzon), Konya
etc.
In 1911-1914 the Pan-Armenian Olympic Games were organized with the participation of tens of Armenian sport and athletic clubs and societies. During the Games records were held and the winners were awarded with silver medals. In 1914 were also held the first “Cilician Olympic Games”.
Many Armenian sportsmen fell victims to the Armenian Genocide. Among them was Shavarsh Chrisian, the editor of “Marmnamarz”, and after it the publication of the magazine was stopped.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n Sport in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
History
Armenian sports clubs and sportsmen played an important role in the development of sport in the Ottoman Empire. The number of the Armenian sports clubs in the Ottoman Empire reached 100.The history of the development of Armenian sport and gymnastics in the Ottoman Empire takes its beginning from the end of 19th century, when the first athletic clubs and societies were established. Under the rule of the Sultan, being engaged in sports or athletics was strictly forbidden and those who broke this law were punished.
After the coup d'état of Young Turks in 1908, the first Armenian athletic clubs and football teams were formed in Constantinople and Smyrna. During this period the first professional Armenian sportsmen - Shavarsh Chrisian, Mkrtich Mkrian, Grigor Hakobian and others played significant role in propagating athletics among the Ottoman Armenians.
In 1911-1914, four Armenian Olympic Games were held in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. From 1911 to 1914, Shavarsh Chrisyan published the "Marmnamarz" sports magazine, the first sports periodical in the Ottoman Empire.
For the first time in the history of Turkish Olympic Games, two Armenian sportsmen Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkryan represented Ottoman Turkey in the Fifth International Olympic Games in Stockholm
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in 1912.
In 1915-1920, many Armenian sportsmen became victims of the genocide and most of the Armenian sports clubs were shut down.
A unique phenomenon in the history of sport of the Ottoman Empire was the participation of two Armenian sportsmen in the 5th International Olympic Games in Stockholm. Armenian athlets Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkrian became the first sportsmen who represented the Ottoman Empire in the International Olympic Games.
On the eve of World War I there were about 40 Armenian athletic clubs in Constantinople alone. Armenian football teams took part in team and international tournaments of several leagues in the capital. The most famous football teams were “Balta Liman”, “Araks” and “Torq”. The most famous team of Smyrna was “Hay Vorsordats Club” (“The Armenian Hunters’ club”). Armenian sport clubs were established also in Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
(İzmir), Nicomedia
Nicomedia
Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...
(İzmit), Karin
Karin
Karin is a common feminine given name in various Germanic languages , and in some French-speaking areas, as well as Japanese...
(Erzurum), Marzvan
Merzifon
Merzifon is a town and district in Amasya Province in the central Black Sea region of Turkey. It covers an area of 970 km², and the population is 69,237 of which 52,947 live in the town of Merzifon, the remainder spread throughout the surrounding countryside...
(Merzifon), Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
, Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
, Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
, Caesarea
Kayseri
Kayseri is a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and...
(Kayseri), Dortyol
Dörtyol
Dörtyol is a port city and oil terminus at the head of the Gulf of İskenderun, near the easternmost point of the Mediterranean coast. Dörtyol is located 26 km north of the city of Iskenderun in the province of Hatay in southeastern Turkey.-Geography:...
(Dörtyol), Trapizon
Trabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
(Trabzon), Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
etc.
In 1911-1914 the Pan-Armenian Olympic Games were organized with the participation of tens of Armenian sport and athletic clubs and societies. During the Games records were held and the winners were awarded with silver medals. In 1914 were also held the first “Cilician Olympic Games”.
Many Armenian sportsmen fell victims to the Armenian Genocide. Among them was Shavarsh Chrisian, the editor of “Marmnamarz”, and after it the publication of the magazine was stopped.
Marmnamarz
The publication of the first sport magazine in the Ottoman Empire by Shavarsh Chrisian, called "Marmnamarz" ("Athletics") (1911–1914), offered an additional incentive for extending the interest towards the sport among the Ottoman Armenians. "Marmnamarz", the "body of national physical training", became the major instrument for the development of sport and athletic life among the Armenian population. This magazine published information about various sport games and their results, as well as published photos of Armenian and foreign athletes and Armenian football teams.External links
- THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE - Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire
- Panorama.am - The role of Armenian Sport in Ottoman Empire
- PUBLIC RADIO OF ARMENIA - Display of the history of Armenian sport in Turkey to be held at the Genocide Institute
- THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM-INSTITUTE - An illustrated book published by AGMI - “Armenian Sport and Gymnastics in the Ottoman Empire”