President Gul receives students competing in Turkish Language Olympics

President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with students competing in the Ninth International Turkish Language Olympics. "In my eyes, each of you is like a goodwill ambassador for your respective countries," Gul told the students at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. "The Turkish language isn't only spoken in Turkey. Globally, there are 300 million people speaking Turkish." The Turkish Language Olympics, held by the Association of International Turkish Teaching (TURKCEDER), lasts through June 30. The two-week event is held in 24 Turkish provinces, and will host an awards ceremony in Ankara on June 25. Over 1,000 students from 130 countries are competing in the games.