The Optimist Türkiye Team Championship kicked off in the Golden Horn

Speaking at the championship, Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan said, "The brilliant young people here today will play a significant role in Türkiye's future water sports success. Without facilities, sports cannot develop. If there were no facilities here, these sports would not be possible, even if there were plenty of sea water."

The Optimist Turkish Team Championship, hosted by the Fatih Municipality and organized under the coordination of the Turkish Sailing Federation in the Golden Horn, has begun. Young sailors competed against the wind in the event, which featured sailing clubs from across Turkey. The championship kicked off at the Fatih Municipality Canoe and Rowing Center. Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan, Istanbul Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Muhittin Özbay, and students attended the event.

Mehmet Ergün Turan: "Bright young people will play an important role in Türkiye's future success in water sports."

Speaking about the championship, Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergün Turan said, "One of the most beautiful spots in Fatih and Istanbul is the Fatih Sports Center, which belongs to our municipality, on the shores of the Golden Horn. Although this is a district surrounded on three sides, this is the first time we have a facility here in the last five years. Thank God, hundreds of young people in Fatih and hundreds of young people in Istanbul are involved in sports here. Now, young people from Fatih and Istanbul will be competing in national and international competitions. Today, an important race is being held here. The Optimist sailing competition is held as a team. Teams from many parts of Türkiye have come here. Many teams from Izmir, Iskenderun, and Istanbul are competing. Our young people and children who are competing are doing sports. I believe that as these sports centers increase, interest in water sports will also increase, and the number of competitors who will represent Türkiye in water sports will increase. Today, these bright young people here will have important places in Türkiye's future success in water sports. Sports cannot develop without facilities. If there are no facilities here, the sea will be "Even if there were enough space, these sports cannot be held. Our athletes need a place to enter the field. We need places to tie up boats and dinghys and where our athletes can enter the field. We are excited and support the sports," he said.

Muhittin Özbay: "We will organize the European Championship in the coming period"

Muhittin Özbay, Istanbul Provincial Director of Youth and Sports, provided information about the number of athletes and teams participating in the Olympics. He said, "Ten teams are participating in our organization. I would like to thank our Sailing Federation, Fatih Municipality, Halit Sports Center, my colleagues, my referees, and my coaches. We want generations to grow up with sports; we want to create generations that grow up with sports. We have 10 teams here and over 100 athletes. We have athletes from various parts of Türkiye. We have bright children who have come far from their families, and we are trying to host them. As you know, we will be organizing the European Championship here in the coming period, organized by the Fatih Municipality Sailing Federation and our Provincial Directorate. Our goal is to train the athlete lawyers, athlete doctors, and athlete politicians of the future. We have very serious plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Athletes and players participating in the Olympics also shared their feelings.

DHA

Reporter: News Center