The introduction of the project titled, “A Disability-Free Life in Istanbul,” which is being sponsored by Istanbul Education Directorate, DG Farma and our Disability Sports Section, was made at the BJK Nevzat Demir Sports Facilities today.

The project is aiming to raise the numbers of youngsters engaged in various disability sports.  Beşiktaş Vice-Chairman Erdoğan Toprak, Board and Football Committee Member Responsible of Amateur Sports Doğan Küçükemre, Football Committee Member Cengiz Zülfikaroğlu, Board Member Responsible for Amateur Sports Necip Sever, Head of Beşiktaş Women, Family and Children Advisory Board Reyna Demirören, Beşiktaş Wheelchair Basketball Team attended the introduction ceremony together with Istanbul Assistant Governor Harun Kaya, Head of Istanbul Education Directorate Dr. Muammer Yıldız and the President of Turkish Disabled Sports Federation Mustafa Veysel Gülpınar.

During the event Beşiktaş Vice-President Erdoğan Toprak addressed the quests: “We are well aware of the challenges faced by the disabled youngsters face living in Istanbul. We are trying to make the life more enjoyable for them with this project. Instead of staying home, they will now come out and test the limits of their talents in sports. Who knows, they may turn into superstars some day. Our club will continue to stand by them as it has done so for many years. Since the Turkish Disabled Sports Federation is a self-administered body, it does not receive any state grants so we must all contribute to keep it going.”   

The Head of Beşiktaş Women, Family and Children Board Reyna Demirören underscored the importance of the project and added, “We’ve been working on it since January as part of our corporate social responsibility program. We’ve finally managed to get it started so I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. From now on, the disabled youngsters of Istanbul will be able to use all our sports facilities whenever they need them. This project will set an example to other Turkish cities.”

This summer, the sports project is hoping to reach out to 1500 disabled youngsters living in Istanbul. Through the channels of Turkish Disability Sports Federation, it will expand to other Turkish cities next summer and provide sports opportunities to almost 8 million adolescents.
The protocol of the “A Disability-Free life in Istanbul” has been singed between the General Manager Gökhan Orhun of DG Farma, which is sponsoring our Disability Sports Section this season, the Head of Istanbul Education Directorate Dr. Muammer Yıldız and the President of Turkish Disability Sports Federation Mustafa Veysel Gülpınar.

The evening participated by nearly 900 distinguished guest culminated with spectacular performances by singers Burcu Güneş, Murat Kekilli and Birol Can.