SIRNAK/MUGLA/IZMIR, Turkey

Several events were held in different parts of Turkey on Thursday to mark the 98th anniversary of Anadolu Agency.

Anadolu Agency is the oldest news outlet of Turkey, which has an almost identical history with the Turkish Republic. The agency was founded on April 6, 1920, by Ataturk.

In Sirnak province, a parachute jump show was held to celebrate the anniversary.

The Natural Sports and Aviation Association near the recently-freed territory of Namaz Mountains from PKK terrorists also hosted an event during which the Turkish flag was waved along with a logo of Anadolu Agency.

The association’s President, Osman Ograk, who led a parachute show over the Namaz Mountains, said: "We are celebrating the anniversary of Anadolu Agency, we have been flying over Mountain Namaz and Ikizce Hills ... Despite the negative experiences of the city over the past four years, the paragliding has attracted attention."

Turkish Air Sports Federation Provincial Representative Fahrettin Mehmet Atak thanked the agency for being their voice.

"We want to represent Sirnak as an area of peace and interesting activities."

Salih Cakan, a physical education trainer for pilots, said: "Prior to this, Sirnak's name was always mentioned along with terrorist incidents but now we are celebrating the 98th anniversary of the Anadolu Agency, one of the best agencies in the world."

The celebration continued in Mugla province with a canoe and rowing tour in the Gokova Gulf.

Surfing instructors Ozgur Ceylan, Ramazan Tas, Aziz Atay, Mustafa Gokce, Emrah Dural and Fuat Dal in Akyaka took part in the tour from the coast of Akyaka to the Gokova Gulf.

Tas emphasized on the contribution of Anadolu Agency to the development of tourism and sports in Mugla. "We are celebrating the 98th anniversary of Anadolu News Agency. A brand of unbiased news reporting style. We thank you for making contributions to the prosperity of our region."

The 98th anniversary celebration also continued in Izmir where high school students spelled out Anadolu Agency with their body postures while waving the Turkish flag.

The Konak district’s Hurriyet Anadolu high school 12th-grade history course also dedicated its program for Turkey’s oldest media agency.

Underlining Anadolu Agency’s closeness with Turkish parliament, the school's deputy head Emin Eri said Anadolu Agency announced the first declaration of Turkish Republic.

Student Ceyda Durmaz also hailed Anadolu Agency’s crucial role in showing the Turkish struggle for freedom to the world.

Irem Kaya also said 98 years back the great leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and his friends became the founders of Anadolu Agency.