Category: Sport

The official ball & song to be launched in Istanbul

The officiall ball and song launch for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 will be held on Saturday, 23 February in İstanbul. The famous shopping mall of Istanbul, named Istinye Park, will host the launch, starting from 14:00 CET, and also open to all visitors.

TRT, the national broadcaster of the tournament, will broadcast the launch live.

At the first time, the official song of the cup, Yıldızlar Buradan Yükseliyor, which means ‘Stars are Rising From There’ in Turkish, will be presented to the public live from the group Gece, who are the Sony Music partners that is the official sponsor of FIFA.

Furthermore, the officall ball for the tournament, which has been produced by adidas, the official sponsor of FIFA, will also be launched.

On the launch day, people can buy the opening match tickets, which will be in Kayseri, three groups matches of Turkey, which will be in Trabzon and Rize, and the final game of the cup, which will be in Ali Sami Yen Arena, Istanbul, from the Biletix ticket boxes in the shopping mall.

World-record trial

The freestyle footballers, Jeremy Lynch and Bill Wingrove, will perform at the launch, trying to break their own world record in ‘on the sole while balancing on the back of a person’.

During the launch, there will be a panel also about the FIFA U-20 World Cup with the participation of the famous people from the sporting, TV and media world.

via The official ball & song to be launched in Istanbul – FIFA.com.

February 21, 2013
Istanbul 2020 bid “encapsulates” exciting times for Turkey says British Sports Minister

By Duncan Mackay

February 20 – If Istanbul’s bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics is successful then it can count on Britain’s support, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has promised after leading a UK trade mission to Turkey’s financial capital.

Robertson, who was Olympics Minister when London 2012 hosted a Games widely-acclaimed as the best in history, headed a delegation of more than 20 companies, including Populous and British Telecom, seeking to work with Turkey as it continues to enhance its repuation as a leading host of major sports events.

“This milestone trade mission comes at a time when contact between Turkey and the UK has never been stronger,” said Robertson.

“These are extraordinarily exciting times for sport in Turkey.

“The Istanbul 2020 bid encapsulates this excitement, bringing together the city’s fantastic history in a country that showcases the best of Asia and the best of Europe.

“Therefore to have so much recent expertise from UK companies involved with London 2012 here in Turkey in one visit has been extremely valuable for both sides.

“Our experience in constructing and delivering great global events is at Turkey’s disposal.”

Robertson met with Turkey’s Sports Minister, Suat Kılıç, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT) Uğur Erdener, in Ankara before flying to Istanbul to meet with the leader of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee, Hasan Arat.

British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson (right) meets his Turkish counterpart Suat Kılıç (left) during a visit where he led a UK trade delegation of more than 20 companies

“I attended the London 2012 Games which were of the highest standard.

“Turkey is also very ambitious to host major global sports events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020,” said Kılıç.

“Therefore it is appropriate that we should welcome Minister Robertson and the delegation of expert UK companies to discuss how Turkey and the UK could collaborate in the future.

“The meetings have been very productive and I believe both sides have learnt a great deal.”

Istanbul has hosted more than 40 major events over the last seven years, including 12 major events last year alone, such as the World Indoor Athletics Championships, the World Short Course Swimming Championships and the WTA Tour Championships,

“It is a great honour for Turkey to welcome this high-level UK trade delegation so soon after London 2012 which set a new benchmark of excellence for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Arat (pictured top with Robertson).

“It has been invaluable for us to meet with Hugh Robertson and the UK companies and learn first hand from their experience as we make our final preparations for the IOC Evaluation Commission visit to Istanbul in five weeks.”

British companies will be hoping to cash in on the expertise gained from London 2012 whoever wins the right to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics when the IOC votes at its Session in Buenos Aires on September 7.

But Istanbul, which is currently undergoing a major upgrade of its infrastructure as part of a plan to celebrate Turkey’s centenary in 2023, offers more opportunities than rivals Madrid and Tokyo.

“This has been an important visit for Turkish sport,” said Erdener.

“There are representatives here from so many companies that made London 2012 successful.

“As Turkish sport is rising significantly on the world stage, I am sure that we can learn a tremendous amount from each other and enjoy many years of mutual cooperation.”

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz

via Istanbul 2020 bid “encapsulates” exciting times for Turkey says British Sports Minister – insidethegames.biz – Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games News.

February 21, 2013
Armenia vs. Turkey

Armenia’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team will battle for third place Wednesday in the 2013 FILA (International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles) Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup competition, which is being held in Tehran, Iran.

Armenia will compete against Turkey for the bronze medals.

The makeup of the teams and the fighting pairs are announced, and the matches will get underway shortly.

NEWS.am Sport

via Armenia vs. Turkey | NEWS.am Sport – All about sports.

February 21, 2013
British Minister for Sports:Istanbul has good chance for 2020 Olympic Games

Robertson visits Turkey to share experience in organizing&developing int. major sporting events.

ANKARA

British Minister for Sports and Tourism Hugh Robertson is visiting Turkey.

British Ambassador in Ankara David Reddaway hosted a reception at the British Embassy residence on Monday in honor of Robertson.

Speaking at the reception, Robertson stressed that the relationship between Turkey and Britain had never been stronger.

Referring to his two-day trip and Turkey’s candidacy to host 2020 Olympic Games, the British minister said, “I will be concentrating on the sporting which binds our countries together. We have just been through the experience of hosting an Olympic Games. We absolutely stand ready to help you in any way that you want.”

Upon a question about what he thinks over Turkey’s 2020 Olympic Games candidacy, Minister Robertson stated that presentation was one of the most important areas in order to win and added, “Istanbul has a very good chance indeed for 2020 Olympic Games.”

Sport and Tourism Minister Robertson was the Olympics Minister when London hosted the 2012 Summer Games.

Robertson came to Turkey to share his experience in organizing and developing international major sporting events and to assess the potential cooperation opportunities between Turkey and Britain.

The British minister is expected to meet Turkish Minister of Youth & Sports Suat Kilic, and Minister of Culture & Tourism Omer Celik during his stay in Ankara on Tuesday.

After completing his talks in Ankara,Robertson will proceed to Istanbul and come together with Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas and the Turkish National Olympics Committee officials.

via British Minister for Sports:Istanbul has good chance for 2020 Olympic Games Anadolu Agency.

February 20, 2013
Wrestling’s removal from Olympic program shocks Turkey

LAUSANNE, Switzerland

The International Olympic Committee decides to drop wrestling from the Olympics, sending shockwaves through Turkey, where wrestling is considered a traditional sport. Turkish Wrestling Federation Chairman Hamza Yerlikaya says the decision needs to be reviewed

Wrestling, which combines freestyle and Greco-Roman events, goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. AP photo

Wrestling, which combines freestyle and Greco-Roman events, goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. AP photo

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) dropped wrestling from the Olympic program yesterday, a surprise decision that deprives Turkey from its stronghold in the Olympic Games.

The IOC executive board decided to retain modern pentathlon, the event considered most at risk and instead remove wrestling from its list of 25 “core sports” in a move that removes one of the oldest Olympic sports from the 2020 Games.

The IOC board acted after reviewing the 26 sports on the current Olympic program. Eliminating one sport allows the International Olympic Committee to add a new sport to the program later this year. Wrestling, which combines freestyle and Greco-Roman events, goes back to the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896.

“It’s a real shock. Wrestling was not on the radar,” an IOC source told Agence France-Presse. “It was a very close vote between wrestling and modern pentathlon, maybe one or two votes separating them. The trouble was while modern pentathlon and taekwondo did effective lobbying; wrestling thought they were safe and did none at all.”

The decision means Turkey will have to cope with the absence of wrestling, its most successful sport, in the 2020 Games.

Turkey has won 58 of its total 87 Olympic medals in wrestling. Turkish athletes have collected 28 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze medals so far.

Turkey opposes the idea

Turkish Wrestling Federation Chairman and two-time Olympic gold medalist Hamza Yerlikaya said the decision needs to be reviewed. “It is plain wrong to drop wrestling, which is one of the main branches in Olympics,” Yerlikaya blamed wrestling’s lack of glamour for the decision. “Combat sports have similar struggles. Sports with more glamour are preferred nowadays. But I believe the decision must be reviewed,” Yerlikaya said.

Wrestling’s governing body FILA’s vice president, Ahmet Ayık, another former Turkish wrestling icon, said that the decision is unacceptable. “That’s impossible,” Ayık told Anatolia news agency. “There were rumors but that is not easy. That is just the executive board speaking among themselves. You just cannot say and drop wrestling. It is impossible to drop wrestling.”

IOC spokesman Mark Adams, however, defended the decision, the Associated Press reported. “This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics,” Adams said. “In the view of the executive board, this was the best program for the Olympic Games in 2020. It’s not a case of what’s wrong with wrestling; it is what’s right with the 25 core sports.”

The IOC executive board will meet in May to decide which sport or sports to propose for 2020 inclusion. The final vote will be made at the IOC session, or general assembly, in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Today’s decision is not final,” Adams said. “The session is sovereign and the session will make the final decision.”

Istanbul, along with Tokyo and Madrid, is running for the host city bid of the 2020 Games.

February/13/2013

via OTHERS – Wrestling’s removal from Olympic program shocks Turkey.

February 13, 2013
ISTANBUL 2020’S TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSPORT PLAN TAKES OFF

ISTANBUL 2020’S TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSPORT PLAN TAKES OFF

2/4/2013

Istanbul; 04 February 2013: The tender to build the world’s largest airport in Istanbul has been officially opened, reinforcing Istanbul 2020’s promise of quick, comfortable and convenient transport solutions for all athletes, and the wider Olympic family, should Turkey have the honour of being awarded its first ever Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

The Olympic family can be assured of finding a fully modernised, connected city when they arrive at Istanbul’s new third airport – which will have six runways and an annual passenger capacity of 150 million by 2020. The first phase of construction is due to be completed in just three and half years and is one of five major infrastructure projects taking place in the city as part of Turkey’s 2023 Master Plan – the nationwide programme of long-term development.

Hasan Arat, leader of the Istanbul 2020 bid, said:

“The Istanbul 2020 team has continued to learn from our previous four bids; we have listened carefully to the Olympic family and we have extensively studied the successes of London 2012 and other host cities. We recognise that effective and efficient transport is critical for a successful Games – starting with a world class airport. The tender opening this week means that we have passed another milestone on our journey; we will continue to work hard to ensure that our ground-breaking transport initiatives will benefit Olympians, Paralympians and the wider Olympic family. Just as importantly, Istanbul 2020 would leave a valuable legacy for citizens and guests by making the city one of the most liveable and accessible in the world.”

Istanbul 2020 promises to be an exceptional Games-time experience by fully drawing on the $1.5 billion average annual investment in transport infrastructure upgrades since 2005 and a further $15 billion to be spent on projects over the next three years. These projects will significantly reduce congestion and speed up all journey times for Olympic client groups. Istanbul 2020 has uniquely proposed hosting the Games in two continents; the Haliç Metro bridge, the Marmaray rail tunnel, the Eurasia Bosphorus road tunnel and a third Bosphorus bridge will all be completed before 2020, increasing the number of Bosphorus road and rail crossings to six.

IOC member and President of the NOC of Turkey, Ugur Erdener, commented:

“As a President of an NOC and an International Federation, I am focussed on the comfort and convenience of the athletes. I am more than confident that this carefully directed investment in Istanbul’s transport infrastructure will enhance our ability to deliver a technically outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020. Our proposed four competition zones across two continents have been selected to highlight Istanbul’s unique location, bridging Europe and Asia, as well as to guarantee athletes an average travel time of just 16 minutes between our iconic venues.”

The winning tender for Istanbul’s third airport will be named in May.

For more information contact: media@istanbul2020.com.tr

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.

via ISTANBUL 2020’S TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSPORT PLAN TAKES OFF.

February 5, 2013