Demanding Schengen Visa from Athletes in Kaş-Meis Peace Marathon Draws Reaction

The traditional swimming marathon, held for the twentieth time this year in the waters between Antalya's Kaş district and the Greek island Meis (Kastellorizo), was organized to symbolize friendship and peace between the two neighboring countries. Many athletes participated in this year's international organization, which featured two different categories: 7 bin metre and 3 bin 500 metre. The event, organized as part of the Kaş Likya Kültür Festivali, has served as an important bridge to increase cultural interaction in the region over the years. However, this year's organization came to the fore due to the visa requirement imposed on athletes on Meis adası, the starting point of the race. The incident reached a wider audience through a banner displayed and statements made by one of the participants.

The second category of the event, covering 3 bin 500 metre, was specially organized for athletes who did not have a Schengen visa. Turkish athletes, who reached Meis adası, the starting point of the race, by boat, were demanded to have a European Union Schengen visa to be able to start. PADI Dalış Eğitmeni and tourism professional Can Kahvecioğlu stated that this situation is incompatible with a sports event themed around peace and friendship that has reached its twentieth year. He emphasized that Turkish athletes were treated as potential immigrants who would flee to Europe on the Greek island they visited solely to take the start. This bureaucratic difficulty experienced by the athletes stood out as a detail that cast a shadow over the peaceful spirit of the event.

Can Kahvecioğlu finished fourth in the 45-54 age category, where he swam alongside 55 athletes. Stating that he could not make it to the podium in this race, which he participated in for the third time, but achieved his best result as 'peace', Kahvecioğlu drew attention to the main message of the organization. At the finish point where he completed the race, he opened a banner written in English 'Peace has no shore' (Barışın kıyısı yoktur), conveying an important message to the world. With this action, he stated that he prioritized not only the sporting struggle but also the idea of peace and brotherhood. This meaningful gesture by Kahvecioğlu received great interest from both the audience and other athletes.

Explaining the main motivation behind the message of peace he gave to the world with the banner he opened, Kahvecioğlu said he wanted to draw attention to the explicit support given by Yunanistan and Güney Kıbrıs to İsrail's recent actions. Believing that peace should not be used for regional tensions and political preferences, the athlete chose such a method to make this situation visible internationally. Stating that his goal was to stand against war and conflicts, he argued that sports is a unifying force above all kinds of political divisions. He also emphasized, with his identities as a tourism professional and diving instructor, that the natural and cultural beauties of the region must be protected. These statements showed that the event created a ground for discussing not only the distance between two coasts but also humanitarian issues in the international political arena.

The visa crisis and political messages experienced throughout the event once again revealed the complex structure of bilateral relations between the two countries. Kahvecioğlu pointed out the double standard of the visa issue by recalling that Turkish citizens can go to the neighboring Greek islands for shopping and tourism purposes with daily short-term visas. He emphasized that international peace events are organized on the Türkiye coast with great dedication, without facing any political obstacles. In contrast, he stated that the Greek side displays a restrictive attitude by making excuses of European Union rules at every opportunity. He added to his words that these bureaucratic obstacles must be removed so that the organization can be held in the coming years on a more trouble-free and genuinely friendship-themed ground.