Recovery Through Sports: Healing the Wounds of the Earthquake
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Steps Up to Support Earthquake Victims Through Sports
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken proactive steps to offer sports and recreational activities to citizens in regions affected by recent earthquakes. In an effort to aid in the recovery period, various sports activities have been organized for young people and children, ranging from football to basketball, swimming to tennis, and orienteering to athletics.
To help mitigate the physical and psychological impact of the earthquakes and to provide continued access to sports training, the ministry dispatched 8 portable pools to Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Malatya as part of the “No One Who Can Swim Project”.
One of the key initiatives undertaken by the ministry includes organizing tournaments in different sports disciplines to engage the youth and contribute to their psychological well-being. A total of 4,652 individuals, including children and young people, participated in these tournaments, which involved the participation of 257 coaches and 257 young volunteers.
Furthermore, special aid, including sports bags, tracksuits, raincoats, socks, towels, shorts, t-shirts, and sports shoes, was provided to every child participating in the Special Neighborhood League project.
In addition to the tournaments, the ministry has continued various sports projects, such as Sultans of Your Home (volleyball), Streets Are Ours (3×3 basketball), Mutlu Wednesday, SHÇEK, Diyanet, GSB Sports Schools, GSB Barrier-Free Sports Schools, Anatolian Stars League, and Run While You Can, in the affected areas after the earthquakes.
The 2023 ANALİG Season has been named Osman Bayraktar in memory of ANALİG Coordinator Osman Bayraktar, who lost his life in the earthquake in Hatay. To contribute to the normalization process in the provinces within the earthquake zone, the season featured championship competitions in swimming, karate, orienteering, table tennis, tennis, and athletics.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, highlighted the healing power of sports in aiding the normalization process and reducing the negative effects of the earthquakes on individuals. He expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in providing support and activities for the children affected by the earthquakes.
Minister Bak also praised the unity and solidarity shown by the Turkish people and the sports community, emphasizing the critical role of sports in healing the wounds caused by the earthquakes. He expressed his hope that this sense of unity and solidarity will continue to strengthen and endure.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has played a vital role in using the power of sports to aid in the recovery and healing process for individuals affected by the recent earthquakes. Through continued sports activities and initiatives, the ministry aims to support the normalization and well-being of the affected communities.
