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Medals for this year's 11th International Edirne Marathon are being handcrafted by local tile artists, organizers announced.
Onder Akdag, head of the Balkan Countries Friendship Group Youth and Sports Club Association (BUDDER), held a joint press conference with Omur Canpolat, a traditional tile artist recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a Bearer of Intangible Cultural Heritage. During the briefing, they announced that custom-designed ceramic medals have been prepared for the marathon, scheduled for Sept. 6.
Akdag stated that to mark the event's 11th year, organizers launched a unique project intersecting sports and art, noting that each medal was individually handmade by tile artists and trainees under Canpolat's coordination.
Akdag explained that the medals feature Edirne's cultural heritage. "Every medal prepared for participants and top finishers is different from the next. The medals, featuring Edirne red, tulip motifs and designs unique to the city, were produced entirely by hand. Each of our artists brought their own interpretation and signature to the designs," Akdag said.
Tile artist Omur Canpolat said that taking part in this project for Edirne, the city where she was born and raised, held special meaning for her.
Canpolat explained that the medal designs incorporate landmarks of the city such as the Selimiye Mosque, the Meric Bridge, the Palace of Justice, and the Edirne tulip, adding that she and her trainees began the project with great enthusiasm.
"Being able to contribute to our city of Edirne made us very happy. As an artist with deep ties to this city, I see this work as a debt of gratitude. We are preparing the medals together with our trainees with great effort and dedication," she said.
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