Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) completely renovated the 100. Yıl Stadium in Küçükçekmece Atakent District, making it a place where 39 amateur football teams can train and professional league matches can be played. The opening of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality 100th Year Stadium, which was transformed from its idle state to its current modern state; CHP deputy Turan Taşkın Özer, CHP PM members Cem Aydın, Turgay Özcan, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality President Ekrem İmamoğluIt was held with the participation of Küçükçekmece Mayor Kemal Çebi and Avcılar Mayor Turan Hançerli. Young athletes, who filled the stands with a capacity of 2368 spectators, showed their love for İmamoğlu by chanting "Ekrem President". The opening ceremony, which was enlivened with dance and football shows, respectively; Confederation of Turkish Amateur Sports Clubs (TASKK) President Ali Düşmez, Çebi and İmamoğlu made speeches.
Emphasizing that Istanbul is a sports city, İmamoğlu said, “The clubs and communities that are over 100 years old put Istanbul in a different place in the whole world. Sports have a very important place in the life and soul of this city. Istanbul; The city of champions and record breakers. "At the same time, Turkey's sports history is a bit like Istanbul's sports history," he said. Underlining that Istanbul, despite its deep-rooted history, has not yet reached the place it deserves in sports nationally and internationally, İmamoğlu said, “In this sense, there have been areas that have been neglected in the development of sports in Istanbul. Instead of turning public lands into sports fields and ensuring that the children and young people we see here reach a healthier future, unfortunately, it was mostly preferred to open them to development. Instead of using public resources to increase the opportunity to do sports, they were unfortunately transferred to the happiness of some people. "This understanding has remained incomplete in the diversification of Istanbul in terms of sports, facilities and opportunities, and in the enrichment of different branches," he said.
“IN 4,5 YEARS, WE HAVE BROUGHT A TOTAL OF 7 SPORTS FACILITIES, 19 OF WHICH ARE FOOTBALL STADIUMS, TO ISTANBUL”
“When we took over, unfortunately, there was not even a sports facility belonging to IMM in our 13 districts,” said İmamoğlu, adding: “In a city like Istanbul, there was no water sports center. Neighborhoods and schools were largely devoid of gyms. The issue of sports is again a matter of dealing with this process with reason, science and technique. The abilities of people who absolutely care about our children and young people can prevent them from being deprived of sports opportunities any further. 2019 was the beginning of a change of mentality in Istanbul, in the field of sports, as in every field. First of all, we prepared a very important master plan of Istanbul together with expert sports people. At the same time, this work was Turkey's first master plan. With this plan, we started to implement our investments in a planned manner, in line with the emerging needs and targets. In 4,5 years, we have brought a total of 7 sports facilities, 19 of which are football stadiums, to the life of Istanbul. We have completed the deficiencies in many of our district stadiums. We broke new ground in Istanbul with barrier-free sports parks. We added gyms to 35 schools in total. We set out to manufacture gyms for our 15 schools. We opened the Haliç Water Sports Center. We brought a sports park to the Golden Horn. We created 9 mini sports centers in Istanbul. Again, we prepared 5 of these sports centers for opening. “All four of them will be at the service of our people during the summer months.”
“I CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE DYNAMISM, ETHICS AND CULTURE OF SPORTS”
Stating that Istanbulites have increased their use of sports facilities, İmamoğlu shared information about the facility he opened. Emphasizing that, as a former athlete and sports manager, he attaches great importance to the dynamism, morality and culture of sports, İmamoğlu completed his speech with the following words:
“I believe that it is necessary to disseminate and glorify the good values that lie at the core of sports. For example; We must ensure that the culture of brave and gentlemanly competition prevails in politics as well as in sports. If a match or an election is to be won, it must be won with courage; If it is to be lost, it must be lost with courage. This is a very important concept. Those who lost the 2019 elections failed to lose manfully. I hope this time they manage to lose bravely. We will show this to them. I hope they won't experience the red card they received from the nation last time. I wish sportsmanship and sports ethics to prevail in all areas of life, especially politics. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality will continue to serve our people endlessly in this field, and we will bring both the European Games to this beautiful and distinguished city, Istanbul, in 2027, and the 2036 Olympic Games, the beginning of which we have put forward and an initiative to set out. "I hereby announce to all of Istanbul that we will bring the sports history of Istanbul to life and crown it."
HE CONDUCTED PENALTY INTO GOALS
Following the speeches, the IBB 100th Year Stadium was officially put into service with the ribbon cutting with the young athletes. İmamoğlu, who was gifted a jersey by different sports clubs, converted the first 2 penalties taken in the stadium into goals. SKIN
3500 ATHLETES AND CITIZENS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE FACILITY
Within the scope of renovation works; 1 amateur football teams will be able to train and professional league matches will be played in the facility, which has been converted into a FIFA 2368 approved synthetic turf football field with a capacity of 39 spectators. In the facility, where approximately 3.500 athletes will benefit, outdoor activities can be performed 3 days a week (Monday-Wednesday-Friday). Matches of amateur teams from surrounding districts can also be played at the İBB 100. Yıl Stadium if necessary.
