Istanbul Geography Olympiad sparks controversy over Cyprus representation

During the 22nd International Geography Olympiad held in Istanbul from August 11-17, a diplomatic controversy arose regarding the representation of Cyprus. The event, organized by the International Geographical Union and hosted by the Turkish Geographical Society, included participants from 50 countries.

During the medal ceremony at Istanbul University, representatives from the Greek Cypriot administration were announced as the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ and displayed their flag. Meanwhile, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was neither invited nor recognized during the proceedings.

Hüseyin Macit Yusuf criticized the incident, stating that the exclusion of the TRNC is unacceptable and contradicts Turkey’s national Cyprus policy. He argued that the situation cannot be dismissed as a mere organizational error and called for accountability, noting that the event occurred with support from both public and private sectors in Turkey.