Turkey celebrates Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day

Turkey celebrated Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day on May 19, with various events in the capital Ankara and around the country. 

The day marks the 98th anniversary of the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence after Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, traveled from allied-occupied Istanbul to Samsun on the Black Sea coast on May 19, 1919, to launch Turkey's War of Liberation against occupying powers.

In Ankara, thousands of visitors flocked to Anıtkabir, the memorial tomb of Atatürk, with many waving Turkish flags and holding pictures of the country's founding father.

Among the attendees were Turkish Sports Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç, who laid a wreath at the mausoleum to pay respect to the founder. 

"Beloved Atatürk, the voyage you started 98 years ago in Samsun reached its target with the foundation of the Republic in Ankara, with the faithful march under your leadership. Our sacred people filled the [streets] with the calls of our esteemed president and prime minister on July 15 [2016], and protected your relic at the cost of their lives. Our youth has once again proved that they can be the future's guarantee by taking their place on the front lines of this resistance," Kılıç wrote in Anıtkabir's guestbook.

The minister also took photos with students who were waiting in front of the tomb. The public was only permitted into the tomb area after the official ceremony ended. 

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and outgoing Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım hosted a delegation of youths to mark the day. The group was welcomed at Erdoğan's presidential palace in Ankara.

"Dear youth, we want to see you more in every area of life, in the front ranks. This is a responsibility you have to your...