Category: Sport

İstanbul to become 2012 European Capital of Sports

SEVGİ KORKUT, İSTANBUL

İstanbul has been chosen as the 2012 European Capital of Sports and city officials say they will use this opportunity to make İstanbul one of the healthiest cities in the world.

A meeting for the coordination of activities to be carried out during the year was held on Thursday at the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s conference hall in Sütlüce, İstanbul. Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kılıç, EU Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bağış, İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu and İstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş as well as district mayors attended the meeting.

İstanbul will be given the title on Nov. 30, Minister Kılıç announced, adding: “Being a European Sports Capital involves the concept of being a city where every individual is interested in sports. If we can grasp this emphasis well and do exactly what it necessitates, İstanbul will become one of the healthiest cities in the world.”

Kılıç noted that İstanbul was preparing to host the World Athletics Championship next year in March. “We want to make sure that the 15 million residents of this world city that offers facilities to engage in various branches of sports as a sports capital also make time for sports in their personal lives.” He said sports investments returned as savings in health spending.

The minister also said it was important for Turkey every time İstanbul hosted an international event. “The door to more comprehensive events will be opened, and it will remain open after this.” He said to live up to the requirements of being a sports capital, İstanbul will have to work with all of its institutions and civil society groups, noting that the ministry could not tackle such a task alone. He called on investors to become partners in the project.

A flag transfer ceremony will take place in Brussels to initiate the city as the new European Capital of Sports, after which Mayor Topbaş and Minister Bağış will bring the flag, which symbolizes the city’s title as the capital of sports activities, to İstanbul from Brussels.

During Thursday’s meeting, EU Minister Bağış said the city’s title as sports capital should be treated as an opportunity to carry out projects to increase İstanbul’s earthquake preparedness. He said many new sports facilities will be built in the city. “The earthquake in Van tore at our hearts, but there are great lessons to be learned from it. We could use the title of sports capital as an opportunity to prepare the city for an earthquake. There is no other İstanbul and we will protect our İstanbul and our country.” He also said the country’s determination will earn it the right to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

October 28, 2011
Maria Sharapova: Weekend Turkey!

Maria Sharapova goes mellow yellow during previews for the WTA Championships 2011 on Sunday (October 23) in Istanbul, Turkey.

At the draw ceremony, the 24-year-old Russian tennis champ paired a Max Mara dress with Giuseppe Zanotti footwear.

“I’m thrilled to be in Turkey, it’s one of my favorite places to visit,” Maria tells JustJared.com. “I’ve been here for a few days enjoying the culture, food, and visiting friends between practice and tournament preparation. Been Fantastic!”

Maria also posted the below picture on her Facebook and said, “The Turkish Chai cups are some of my favorite souvenirs from here…”

via Maria Sharapova: Weekend Turkey! | Exclusive, Maria Sharapova : Just Jared.

October 24, 2011
Deron Williams tweets he’s OK after deadly earthquake in Turkey; NJ Nets GM Billy King safe also

BY Kristie Ackert

Nets guard Deron Williams is not harmed in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkey Sunday. Howard Simmons/News

Nets star Deron Williams, playing in Turkey during the NBA lockout, said he and his family were fine after the deadly earthquake that hit the country Sunday.

Williams said via Twitter that the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit hundreds of miles from their home in Istanbul.

“Thanks everyone for checking on me I’m OK the quake was very far from Istanbul,” Williams tweeted.

Nets general manger Billy King had been in Turkey to see Williams play Saturday night. He was already on a plane and on his way home when the quake hit.

“Glad to be back in the US. Sad to hear abt earthquake in Turkey. Not sure how many people on the plane know yet,” King said on his Twitter account.

Williams also tweeted that his prayers were with the victims of the earthquake. At least 89 people were confirmed dead Sunday afternoon and authorities fear more could be lost after dozens of buildings in the area collapsed.

The ongoing NBA lockout even managed to affect the normal calls of a concerned person in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Nets coach Avery Johnson had to dance around the rules – which don’t allow him to discuss NBA players or the lockout – when asked about his concern for Williams’ well-being.

Johnson admitted the lockout has affected him, joking he needs a training camp to lose the extra weight he has put on.

The awkward relationship between the league and its players also limited what Johnson could say Sunday as he spoke to about 75 children at a clinic at the Nets practice facility.

“You can’t say all that you usually say,” Johnson explained, “I just tried to reinforce the message they already get from their parents.”

The lockout, which began July 1, has already cost the NBA games scheduled through Nov. 14, or 100 games. After talks between the union and league broke down last week over the cut of the basketball-related income the players should share in, it is likely more games will be lost.

Unable to talk about coaching players like Williams, which would immediately impress the children, Johnson drew on his own life experiences. That included his 1999 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs. That was the last NBA season shortened by a labor dispute.

Johnson said that the Spurs were successful in the lockout-shortened season because it was a veteran team.

“We already knew what we had to do,” Johnson said. “I was always the underdog, trying to prove I belonged, so I was already used to working out three or four times a day.”

via Deron Williams tweets he’s OK after deadly earthquake in Turkey; NJ Nets GM Billy King safe also.

October 24, 2011
Maria Sharapova meets Turkish tennis juniors

The World No. 2nd ranked Maria Sharapova has begun preparations for the WTA Tour Championship, which will take place in Istanbul from 25th to 30th October, 2011.

The 24-year-old Sharapova, who had met with Turkish tennis juniors on Wednesday, Turkish Tennis Federation President Ayda Uluc also joins with tennis star in the occasion. The Russian star Sharapova had signed autographs for children and also posed for photos. The top seed said she has been working hard on his ankle every day and taking part in the training sessions.

Sharapova said her team physio Juan has been doing an amazing job from last couple of weeks in Istanbul, where she is very confident to recover soon to play in the WTA Championship in Istanbul. Sharapova said she is very excited to spend time with junior tennis kids and praised the children for their performance. She added foot has been doing well so far and hopes to be fully fit until the Istanbul tournament kicks off.

The three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova, who suffered foot injury at 2011 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo against 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and also withdraws from the China Open. Sharapova has been playing WTA Istanbul championship for the first time in four years, where she won the title in 2004 and runner-up in 2007 to Justine Henin.

via Maria Sharapova meets Turkish tennis juniors | Live Tennis Guide.

October 21, 2011
Istanbul holds world’s only intercontinental marathon

Driving rain and chilly winds Sunday did not deter thousands of people, young and old, professional and amateur, from participating in the world’s only marathon to span two continents in Turkey’s largest city Istanbul.

An estimated 100,000 people joined the 33rd edition of the Eurasia Marathon in various categories.

It is one of the few times in the year that one of the two iconic Bosphorus bridges connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul is opened to pedestrian traffic, Xinhua reported.

The highest interest was in the free walk, open to amateurs with about 80,000 people registering to participate in the event.

In the professional categories, prize money of $50,000 each was available for the winner in the men’s and women’s full marathon of 42km, $4,000 each for the winner in 15km run and $5,000each for the winners in the wheelchair marathon.

Kenya’s Vincent Kiplagat won the full marathon Sunday repeating his feat from last year in the men’s race while Alemitu Abera from Ethiopia won the women’ s event.

The 15km event was dominated by athletes from Ethiopia with Atsedu Tsegai winning the men’s event and Sosena Gezau taking top honour in the women’s race.

The run apart from spanning two continents also takes in some of Istanbul’ s famous landmarks along its route.

via Istanbul holds world’s only intercontinental marathon – Sport – DNA.

October 17, 2011
Maria Sharapova arrives in Istanbul

The World No. 2 ranked Maria Sharapova of Russia has arrived in Istanbul to take part in the WTA Championships, which is scheduled to kick off on 25th to 30th October, 2011.

The Russian star Sharapova has sustained foot injury in the quarter finals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, where she has withdrawn from the tournament playing against 2011 Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova. Sharapova also pulled out of the China Open, as she is looking very positive to return back to court at Istanbul tournament.

The 24-year-old Sharapova said her Physio Juan has done an amazing job from last couple of weeks and happy to be fully fit in time. Sharapova has played remarkable tennis on all surfaces grass, clay and hard courts, where she has clinched the Cincinnati Masters title and Rome Masters. She also reached the final at Wimbledon and semi final at French Open. Sharapova had played great tennis, after return back to court from shoulder and wrist injury.

The three-time major title winner Sharapova hopes to win the third WTA crown at Istanbul, where Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, Vera Zvonareva and Samantha Stosur have qualified for the WTA Championship. The tough battle between Agnieszka Radwanska and Andrea Petkovic will be the eighth player to qualify for the tournament, after Austrian Open this week.

via Maria Sharapova arrives in Istanbul | Live Tennis Guide.

October 15, 2011