Due to the lack of international recognition, Northern Cyprus is not a member of some international sporting bodies.
There are 29 sports federations in Northern Cyprus and 13,838 people registered in them as of 2008. Taekwondo-karate-aikido-kurash is the most popular sport with 6054 athletes. It is followed by association football (2240 athletes), shooting (1150 athletes) and hunting (1017 athletes).[1]
Some Northern Cyprus sport clubs participate in Turkey's sport leagues. For example: the Fast Break Sport Club, in Turkey's Men's Basketball Regional League; the Beşparmak Sport Club, in Turkey's Handball Premier League; and the Lefka European University, in Turkey's Table-tennis Super League. The record for swimming 75 km between Turkey and Northern Cyprus belongs to Turkish national Alper Sunaçoğlu (completed in 26 hours and 15 minutes).[2]
In May 2015, the friendly matches resulted as Northern Cyprus 59-76 Abkhasia;[3] and Northern Cyprus 59-47 Abkhasia [4] both played in Northern Cyprus.
Billiards
Billiards Federation of North Cyprus (BFNC) is a member of the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF).[5] The national teams of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus played each other in an international sport tournament for the first time in the 2010 European billiards championships in Kielce, Poland.[6][7]The country, North Cyprus, is also a member of World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Union Mondial de Billard.[8]
2014 Dynamic Billard European Championships (with 32 participating countries) was hosted by Northern Cyprus.[9]
Bocce
Bocce Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International Bocce Association.
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding and Fitness: 2010: Yakup Çavuşgil became World Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (WBFF) champion in the championship in Canada.
The team of Northern Cyprus Darts Federation became third in darts championship in Spain.[11]
EasyKart
EasyKart Federation of North Cyprus is a member of the International EasyKart Federation.[12] 2008: Zeka Özteknik became International Easykart champion in 125cc.[13]
Football
In 1975, FIFA general-secretary Helmut Kaser granted permission for Cyprus Turkish Football Federation to play friendly internationals against FIFA countries, but not competitive games; this permission was ablolished in 1983 when Northern Cyprus was declared.[14][15]
Northern Cyprus is among the countries listed by the FIFA Working Committee on Small Nations.[16][17]
Northern Cyprus is a member of Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA).[18]
In September 2014, Demetris Vasiliou became the first Greek Cypriot football player to sign for a team in the Northern Cypriot league. He plays for Değirmenlik (team of Kythrea).[19][20] Greek Cypriot nationalists labelled him a "traitor" and surrounded his home, preventing him from attending his first match with the team.[21][22] Vasiliou said he received death threats. He also lost his job as youth coach of Omonia Aradippou.[23]
FootballTennis Association of North Cyprus is a member of the Federation International FootballTennis Association.[25] Northern Cyprus placed 6th in the 9th World Footballtennis Championship[26]
The 2011 European FootballTennis Championship was hosted by Northern Cyprus.[27]
The 2014 World FootballTennis Championship was hosted by Northern Cyprus in 19-24 October.[28]
Golf
Northern Cyprus has golf fields with highest standards.[29]
Wrestling: Northern Cyprus is a member of International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA).[43]
On 18 May 2010 Northern Cyprus became a member of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF).[44] Northern Cyprus participated in the First World Children's Games in 2011.[45]