TOC and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Team Up to Provide Sport for Syrian Children

The Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality today announced the launch of the Support Through Sport Project, which aims to contribute to Syrian children's physical and social development through greater accessibility to sport.

The project, which is financed through the IOC Emergency Fund for Refugees, has enabled the TOC to restore and transform a hall belonging to the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Community Centre into a fully equipped sports hall. In addition, the TOC has hired trainers, translators, and technical officers to support the project and covered all expenses. The TOC wants to use the project to enable Syrian children to socialize with each other and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Deniz Köken, TOC Board Member Seyit Bilal Porsun and TOC Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan distributed sports shoes, tracksuits and t-shirts to approximately 300 children aged between 6 and 12 at the opening ceremony of the project.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deniz Köken said: "We are incredibly grateful to the TOC for their support towards Syrian children in Turkey. Investing in children is an investment for the future. We are committed to providing access to sport for all the children in Turkey and believe this project will have a real impact on their future."

Seyit Bilal Porsun, said: "Since its foundation TOC have been developing and implementing projects that make a real difference. The sustainable projects they have developed give young people an invaluable access sport and the opportunity to learn important life lessons. We are delighted to offer our support to help contribute to the physical and social development of Syrian children through the Support Through Sport Project."

Speaking after the ceremony, TOC President, Professor Dr. Uğur Erdener said: " With the Support Through Sport Project, we are dedicated to boosting the education of thousands of Syrian children. We believe the project will help integrate them into our country, enabling them to be able to socialize and to strengthen their physical wellbeing. I would like to thank IOC and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality for their invaluable support in launching the project."

The TOC has long been committed to making sport more accessible to children in Turkey. Over the past few years, projects such as the Sports Culture and Olympic Education Project, Free Sports Schools Project and the Active Kids Project have integrated the core Olympic values to help local and national authorities work towards creating a better future for the country’s youth. The TOC will continue to pursue this commitment with the Support Through Sport Project.

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