''Benim naçiz vücudum elbet bir gün toprak olacaktýr, ancak Türkiye Cumhuriyeti ilelebet payidar kalacaktýr.''

Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK

Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day
Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day holiday is strongly associated with a Turkish national hero, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He was a Turkish field marshal and revolutionary statesman who fought for the independence of Turkey.

Back in 1919, Mustafa Kemal had to organize the Ottoman military units, so he established an organized national movement against the occupying forces. The declaring of Turkish independence was in danger, it was important to take actions, so Mustafa Kemal reached Samsun on 19 May 1919. It was a difficult period in the history of Turkey, but the country became independent thanks to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He also was the first President of the Republic of Turkey (1923-1938).

It's no secret that Atatürk's arrival in Samsun is an important event on the calendar as it marks the starting date of the War for Independence. In 1938, the Turkish government made May 19th an official holiday and named it as Youth and Sports Day. Later, the holiday got its present name, the ''Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day'' on the 100th anniversary of Atatürk's birth, in 1981.