Istanbul;

18 January 2012: Hasan Arat, one of the leaders of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee and Vice President of the NOC of Turkey, believes the bid team’s experiences at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck have left them better equipped than ever to harness the dynamism and ambition of Turkey’s youthful population.
 

Speaking at the Turkey exhibition stand in the YOG World Mile, part of Innsbruck 2012’s innovative Culture and Education Programme, Hasan Arat was full of praise for the organisers’ achievements:
 

“The Innsbruck 2012 Organising Committee has done something very special here. It has been fascinating to see how they have engaged the local community, and particularly young people. We’ve learned some valuable lessons on how to connect youth from all over the world in a unified celebration of sport, and our Applicant City File will be stronger for it.”
 

The challenge of empowering youth through sport is a very pertinent one in a nation with a population as young as Turkey’s. Istanbul 2020 has identified youth engagement as the key to ensuring a sustainable legacy for the city, Turkey and the Olympic Movement. Hasan Arat continued:
 

“Istanbul 2020 will revitalise an entire generation’s passion for the Olympic Movement. So much of the amazing economic, social, cultural and sporting development happening in Turkey right now is youth-driven, and we want to make sure that continues. We are developing an exciting range of educational, entrepreneurial and training programmes, so that young people from all over the world can play their part in Games delivery and in realising its sustainable legacy.”
 

IOC member and President of the NOC of Turkey, Professor Ugur Erdener, was alongside Hasan Arat in heading up the Istanbul 2020 delegation. He commented on an historic moment for the Olympic Movement:

“The first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games have been a credit to the organisers, to the young athletes and to the Olympic family. I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the Innsbruck 2012 Organising Committee for their outstanding professionalism and commitment. The success of the first two Youth Olympic Games is fitting testament to the visionary leadership of President Jacques Rogge. Innsbruck inspires us as we look to create a Games plan that meets the priorities of the Olympic Movement in the 21st Century.”
 

While Professor Erdener will be at Innsbruck 2012 for the duration, Hasan Arat has now returned to Turkey to oversee the conclusion of the Applicant City File. Work is progressing rapidly on a concept that, the Bid Committee says, will offer the Olympic family a brand new and exciting Games proposition.
 

 

Tel: +90 542 225 52 22

Email: deryas@tsmistanbul.com

 

Jon Tibbs:      

Tel: +44 790 997 4727

Email: jon@jtassocs.com