Reuters in Istanbul

Competitors in Turkey's annual oil-wrestling competition have banded together to try to stop a groups of homosexual admirers coming to watch the event.

Bears of Turkey, a gay entity that exists on the internet and describes itself as "just a groups of guys who try to do something", is advertising a trip to watch the 639th Kirkpinar oil wrestling championships to be held on July 1 and 2 near Turkey's northwestern city of Edirne.

But Alper Yazoglu, chairman of the Traditional Sports Federation, said: "It's immoral. We are trying every way to have this stopped... We shall pass this matter on to the interior, foreign and other ministries to ask for this disgusting business to be stopped."

The sport of oil wrestling dates back to the Turks' exodus from central Asia in the middle ages. Each year, the contestants cover themselves in olive oil and graple with each other wearing leather trousers.

Putting a hand down the opponent's trousers to get a better grip is a common tactic.