Unsung Heroes: Dedicated to Turkish Sports
Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, recently attended the 19th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of Turkish Amateur Sports Clubs. During his speech at the assembly, Minister Bak highlighted his own background in amateur sports clubs, stating that he had worked as a referee and a manager, thanks to the support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Minister Bak expressed his gratitude and admiration for the delegates who had gathered from all over Turkey. He reminisced about his own experiences as an amateur manager and how he had started his journey in sports at a young age. He mentioned various individuals who had played a crucial role in his development, including Yaşar brother and Orhan Saka, among others. Bak emphasized his passion for serving amateur sports and thanked all those who contributed to the registration and licensing process.
Addressing the representatives of the amateur sports clubs, Minister Bak stressed that serving amateur sports required love and dedication. He praised their efforts in keeping children away from negative influences such as coffeehouses and drugs, highlighting their role as heroes and valuable contributors to Turkish sports. Bak expressed his pride in President Erdoğan’s background in sports and his commitment to serving young people.
Looking towards the future, Minister Bak stated that the century of Turkey would be the century of amateurs. He mentioned the facility establishment initiatives that had been undertaken all over the country under the leadership of President Erdoğan. He acknowledged the efforts of previous sports ministers in this regard and expressed his commitment to continue serving athletes and youth. Bak also mentioned the support they had received in the Turkish Grand National Assembly for the development of amateur sports and expressed hope for the extension of the period for changing the statutes of sports clubs.
Minister Bak highlighted his own involvement in sports at various levels, from collecting equipment to serving as club and federation president, before assuming his current role as Minister of Youth and Sports. He applauded the achievements of the National Women’s Volleyball National Team and expressed their hopes for success in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bak also mentioned the upcoming 2032 European Football Championship to be held in Turkey and the participation of the National Football Team in the 2024 European Football Championship.
In conclusion, Minister Bak called on representatives of amateur sports clubs to increase the number of clubs and to actively introduce children and young people to sports. He closed his speech by reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to becoming a sports country and increasing support for amateur sports clubs.
