Image: Turk Telekom Arena, LardoBalsamico, CC BY-SA 3.0
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged to transform Istanbul into the “capital of sports” to rival major cities such as Barcelona, Los Angeles, and London.
Hurriyet Daily News said Erdoğan made the comments as he was opening a major new basketball hub in Turkey’s largest city.
The new home of Turkish basketball includes a 10,000-seat main hall, a 1,000-seat training facility for national teams, three 500-seat halls for youth teams, a basketball school, cardio and fitness area, a training camp and hotel for both domestic and foreign teams, 3×3 basketball courts, event spaces, and dining areas.
Candidates to be among the world’s leading basketball facilities, the Basketball Development Center (BGM) also features 15,000 square meters of green space and utilizes energy production technologies from solar panels, emphasizing its eco-friendly aspect.
Primarily serving the men’s and women’s national basketball teams, the facility also houses a specialized basketball high school aimed at fostering young talent.
Erdoğan said at the inauguration of the venue in Istanbul, “Many developed countries have viewed sports centers as strategic investments for the prestige and future of their cities. We see how sports investments turn those cities into global brands.
“With the magnificent work we are currently doing, Istanbul will be the capital of history, culture, art and sports. This is also one of the strongest steps taken for Istanbul to reach its rightful place on the world sports stage.”
Erdoğan expressed hopes that the facility, which he described as a “talent acquisition center” for Turkish basketball, will nurture future stars.
“Our athletes will make history with the matches they play here, write epics, and achieve successes that make us all proud as a nation,” he added.
The opening of the BGM, a highly significant facility for Turkish basketball, was held in Zeytinburnu where it has been built on approximately 70 acres of land.
The center opened its doors with the match of the 37th Men’s Presidential Cup between Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes.
The inauguration ceremony took place in a 10,000-capacity main hall with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with several notable figures including Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, and Turkey Basketball Federation (TBF) President Hidayet Türkoğlu.
Minister Bak expressed pride and honor in the construction of the Basketball Development Center, describing it as a magnificent asset for Turkish sports. He highlighted the importance of this facility in fostering future basketball stars. “We are proud and honored to have built this facility,” he said.
Türkoğlu emphasized that the center will shape the future of Turkish basketball, expressing his gratitude to all involved in making this dream a reality.
He encouraged young athletes to value their time at this center, further inspiring them to achieve new heights in their basketball careers.
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