Olympic fever swept Turkey on Sunday as National Olympic Day festivals took place across the country, organised by the National Olympic Committee of Turkey and supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sport.
The cities of Balıkesir, Denizli, Eskişehir, İstanbul, Kocaeli, Konya, Mersin and Rize led the celebrations, which were sponsored by Samsung Electronics. The total number of participants is estimated to have reached over 100,000.
Hasan Arat, leader of the Istanbul 2020 Bid, commented that the day’s celebrations were a glimpse at the potential power of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Istanbul to unite and inspire:
"Anyone who has been to a sports event in Turkey before will know that our people love their sport. During the National Olympic Day celebrations, that enthusiasm gripped the entire nation. This weekend’s buzz is just a taste of
what the 2020 Games in Istanbul could inspire - just imagine athletes, sports fans and nations across the world celebrating the same way Turkey did on Sunday."
An Olympic Day run has been organised in all the IOC member nations. In Turkey, every participant who completed the race was given a certificate signed by IOC President, Jacques Rogge, and President of the NOC of Turkey, Professor Uğur Erdener.
Professor Uğur Erdener said that the support for the event was a boost for the nation’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games:
"It has been incredible to see the passion that young people, in Istanbul and all across Turkey, feel for the Olympic Movement. To see Turkey united by a celebration of the values of Olympism shows the world that Turkey wants the 2020 Games - it is a huge boost for our Bid."
For more information, please contact the Istanbul 2020 media team: media@instanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @2020_istanbul or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
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