Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak announced that a budget of 1 billion 150 million lira had been allocated to renovate the Arda Turan, Semih Erden, Necip Uysal, Cevatpaşa and Mega Center sports facilities in Bayrampaşa.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Bayrampaşa Deputy Mayor İbrahim Akın and former national basketball player Semih Erden also attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the Mega Center Sports Facilities.
Five facilities to be renovated
Bak said Bayrampaşa was a district with a special place in sports and noted that athletes such as Semih Erden, Arda Turan, Necip Uysal and Hidayet Türkoğlu had emerged from the district. Bak said the necessary work for the sports investments had been completed and that 1 billion 150 million lira in support had been provided, adding that the facilities would be made safer and more modern.
Bak announced that the existing sports hall in Bayrampaşa had been demolished and that a new sports complex would be built in its place. He said the complex, whose projects had been completed, would include a sports hall, a swimming pool, auxiliary halls and a training camp center, adding that the tender process would take place soon.
Bak also announced that the stands at Bayrampaşa Stadium would be renovated and said the stadium would be used more effectively. He added that sports investments in the district would continue.
Emphasis on sports investment for young people
Bak said they were working to keep young people away from digital addiction, drugs and harmful habits, adding that modern sports facilities continued to be built in different parts of Türkiye. He said they were working to make school sports more active and increase the number of clubs and athletes.
Bak recalled that Istanbul would host the 2027 European Games. He said one of Europe's modern athletics facilities was being built next to Atatürk Olympic Stadium and that the work was expected to be completed within three to four months.
Bak said a modern shooting range had been built in Bağcılar, adding that many facilities in Istanbul would be renovated and the city was being prepared for the European Games. He said the stadium under construction in Ankara was planned to open toward the end of the year and would serve 17 different sports as part of preparations for the 2032 European Football Championship.
96 percent placement in dormitory applications
Osman Aşkın Bak announced that 96 percent of the university students who applied to the Credit and Dormitories Institution had been placed in dormitories. Bak said ministry investments had brought total bed capacity to 1 million and that placements were continuing.
Number of school sports clubs rises in Istanbul
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül announced that the number of school sports clubs in the city had risen from 32 to 2,700, while the number of licensed athletes had increased from 13,000 to 820,000. Gül said this year's goal was to raise the number of licensed athletes to 1.5 million.
Gül said sports equipment had been provided to schools, adding that the aim was for students to participate in league-style competitions by expanding access to facilities, clubs, licensed athletes and equipment.
Bayrampaşa's sports infrastructure to be renovated
Bayrampaşa Deputy Mayor İbrahim Akın said at the ceremony that the district's sports infrastructure was being restructured through a transformation covering five important sports locations. Akın said the existing facilities would be made more modern, secure and suited to current needs, adding that new units and areas of use would be added where necessary.
