KIŞ OLİMPİYATLARI SEREMONİLERİNDE TÜRKİYE TEMSİLİ: SEREMONİ KIYAFETLERİNİN KÜLTÜREL KODLARI VE ULUSAL KİMLİK BAĞLAMINDA İNCELENMESİ
THE REPRESENTATION OF TÜRKIYE IN WINTER OLYMPICS CEREMONIES: THE INVESTIGATION OF CEREMONIAL ATTIRE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF CULTURAL CODES AND NATIONAL IDENTITY

Summary/Abstract: The Olympic Games are not merely an arena for athletic competition, but also a strategic national branding tool through which countries project their cultural heritage and national identities onto the global stage. This research aims to examine the extent to which the attire selected by Turkey for the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies from past to present reflects its national image, as well as the symbolic language embedded in these designs. Within the scope of this research, how Turkey’s cultural identity is constructed through apparel designs, the place of these designs in public perception, and the profound meanings they carry were analyzed using a qualitative approach adopting the document analysis method. The data collection process was based on the official archives of the Turkish Olympic Committee (TMOK), academic reports, professional design analyses (such as Adidas, Vakko, etc.), social media interactions, and media critiques. Accordingly, the models used in the ceremonies, textile technologies, and cultural motifs integrated into the designs were subjected to a holistic evaluation. In light of the findings, it was determined that Turkey’s attire choices in the winter games initially consisted of functional pieces focusing on climate conditions, but over time, this approach evolved into an aesthetic centered on minimalism and technology. Particularly in recent designs, it is observed to some extent that traditional carpet and rug motifs belonging to Turkish weaving culture are combined with modern geometric forms and transferred onto high-tech fabrics. Nevertheless, the public reflections of the designs in question have generated a vibrant space for social debate regarding the quality of national representation and aesthetic preferences. Consequently, it is concluded that Olympic attire plays a pivotal role in Turkey’s cultural representation; however, a more comprehensive strategy is required in terms of visual continuity and symbolic depth. In order to enhance the power of national representation in future organizations, it is recommended to blend traditional handicrafts with sustainable fashion innovations and to archive design processes on digital platforms as a national cultural memory project.

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