Sinan AKDOĞAN & Zekican GÜRKAN
The opening ceremony for FISU University World Cup Combat Sports, held for the first time in Turkey and hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University, was held with a spectacular ceremony at Ondokuz Mayıs University Atatürk Congress and Culture Center.
FISU University World Cup Combat Sports, attended by 50 countries, 430 universities, and 769 athletes, Opening Ceremony attracted significant participation. Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Demir, Ondokuz Mayıs University Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal, World University Sports (FISU) Vice President Leonz Eder, Burdur University Rector Prof. Dr. Adem Korkmaz, Gaziantep University Rector Prof. Dr. Arif Özaydın, Gazi University Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız, Hitit University Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Osman Öztürk, Trakya University Rector Prof. Dr. Erhan Tabakoğlu, Provincial Police Chief Ömer Urhal, Ondokuz Mayıs University Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Cengiz Batuk, Prof. Dr. Mahmut Başoğlu, Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, Prof. Dr. Sevim Alisir, OMU Secretary General Prof. Dr. İdris Varıcı, Turkish University Sports Federation (TUSF) President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Günay, Youth and Sports Ministry of Sports Services General Directorate Deputy General Director Ömer Altunsoy, Youth and Sports Provincial Director Feyzullah Dereci, athletes, coaches, and students attended the ceremony.
The program started with the parade of representative athletes of the participating universities. Protocol members gave speeches after the parade which was full of colorful scenes.
OMU Rector Ünal stated that he was pleased with the participation of the rectors in the opening ceremony and continued his speech; "This picture, in which the rector is seen next to his student, shows that sports with all its branches have moved to a medium other than being a personal effort and hobby of the units or students, so it is seen that sports are defined as a powerful tool in raising a generation that is healthier and stronger, has high self-confidence, and contributes to the society with its skills and competencies. This awareness will enable our country to be more visible in the international arena, strengthen the sense of belonging of its individuals, and provide a stronger representation of our country in competitions. We are extremely happy that this ten-day event which can drive people and nations from resentment, fight, and, more importantly, war towards global peace and solidarity, will be held at the Ondokouz Mayıs University of Samsun. As the host, I respectfully greet you all again and again."
Rector Ünal said that OMÜ is a value produced by Samsun, and continued: "Ondokuz Mayıs University is a university that aims to be a research university that contributes to the development of the region with its knowledge of nearly half a century and has entrepreneurial titles. With a total of 52 thousand students and 5 thousand 500 international students from 120 different countries, it is one of the rare campuses in Turkey where nine other languages are spoken on its campus. Behind this success are OMU, its geographical location, Samsun people, managers, institutions, and organizations, namely the whole Samsun. Samsun has a team that has successfully carried out the TEKNOFEST organization with a record of participation from competitors and visitors worldwide. Hosting the FISU University World Cup Combat Sports will seriously contribute to the city's experience."
Rector Ünal stated that OMU is constantly rising in the rankings among universities and continued as follows. "OMU is frequently mentioned with the knowledge it produces and the scientists, artists, athletes, and bureaucrats it has trained. It ranked 8th among all universities with 15 gold, 8 silver, and 17 bronze medals in the 2021-2022 competitions. We took the necessary steps to further its success. It has emerged as a university aiming at total quality, ranking 26th in the URAP and 4th in the Turkish patent registration rankings. This upward momentum will continue."
Rector Ünal said that the organization contributed to Samsun's self-confidence and ended his speech as follows; "These competitions, known by the abbreviation FISU, are held in Samsun in cooperation with the International University Sports Federation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Turkish University Sports Federation, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and OMU. Athletes from 430 universities operating in 50 countries will stay in Samsun for approximately ten days and participate in competitions. Despite the socio-economic difficulties, crises, and wars that the world is experiencing, the organization's realization is a success in itself. The organizing committee does its job with love and manages the process professionally. Therefore, we do not doubt that we will complete it successfully. I congratulate them in your presence. Distinguished participants, the opening speech of the organization was going to be delivered by Dr. Mehmet Kasapoğlu, our Minister of Youth and Sports. However, due to the busy schedule of our minister, he could not be with us. Here I would like to express my gratitude to him. Because he has been instrumental in the organization of this championship in Turkey and Samsun, and he did not refrain from making any sacrifices and contributions in providing all kinds of equipment. I would also like to thank our General Manager, Ömer Altunsoy, who represented and followed the process directly and is with us now. I wish good luck to all our participating athletes. Congratulations to FISU. We are sure that they will perform more effective operations with even better results in future events. It made me very happy that such an organization was held in Samsun. It added confidence to Samsun's self-confidence. It has strengthened and enlarged its horizon for the future. Thank you all for your participation. Congratulations to my fellow athletes. They are not only a part of a competition or a tool, but they also have a mission to raise awareness in universities around the world, educate their peers through peer education, create awareness and guide them. It was essential that this message was given in Samsun, and I would like to thank them personally."
Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Demir's speech was as follows; "Samsun, one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey, is the center of the Black Sea Region. We are located in the center of a region that plays a critical role in the country's future regarding climate and human structure. Ondokuz Mayıs University is one of the oldest universities in Turkey. Currently, Samsun is a university city with the newly developing Samsun University. I am thrilled that the FISU University World Cup Combat Sports is being held here. I would like to thank our Minister of Youth and Sports, the General Manager of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Federation Presidents for allowing this organization to be held and started in Samsun. We hosted the world's largest Technology Festival only 20 days ago. We had nine hundred thousand participants, 1 million 300 thousand as the entire Black Sea. We hosted a great organization with the interest and concern of all the officials and relevant people of Samsun without causing any problems. I am delighted to host such a significant event, the championship held for the first time, right after TEKNOFEST. This will add considerable experience to our organizational abilities and strengthen our skills at a much higher stage in realizing similar organizations. But beyond that, we have a goal. Our goal is to give all our guests an unforgettable ten days in their lives together with all concerned parties. Hopefully, we will be able to do this. Samsun is a city of vision. As the Metropolitan Mayor of a city that cooperates very well with all the dynamics of the city, whose vision practices with the best possible knowledge and experience can touch both the whole city and the lives of all people living in the city, and strive to do this in an exemplary way, I hope we will do our best for this organization together with its 5 thousand employees. We will try our best to do everything. I hope we make you happy. I hope it will be a grand championship. Welcome, you brought joy."
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Turkish Universities Sports Federation President Prof. Dr. Mehmet Günay said, "I hope this organization will be the version of the successes we have achieved in Europe on the world platform. We want to thank our Minister, Dr. Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, and our sports ministry for giving us this opportunity. Without their support, we would not have been able to carry out this organization. Samsun needs to be mentioned on an important note. We call Samsun Olympic City. Samsun has embraced us, and we have been preparing for this for six months. We need to open a separate parenthesis, especially for Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Demir; he has incredibly supported us. The university we work with is already one of our distinguished universities. We're doing this operation together. I would like to express my gratitude to the academic and administrative staff of Ondokuz Mayıs University, especially our Rector, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal. In addition, I would like to express my endless gratitude to my colleague Feyzullah, the esteemed director of our organization, and his working team, and to our Provincial Directorate, which organizes this beautiful organization with us 24/7. The employees of our federation did our duty. They showed extraordinary effort because we have been in international organizations for the last two months, and we will continue. I give my thanks and gratitude to them. I would like to thank all the officials who participated in the organization with us, all the people of Samsun who made their efforts, and especially the volunteers who were with us voluntarily with their beautiful hearts. They deserve the biggest applause. Of course, we do not doubt that Samsun will succeed in this organization. We have accomplished many more, and we can achieve many more. Our Ministry of Sports and we brought this organization to you. Now it's your turn. We are here for you. You ask, we'll do it because it's your federation. I congratulate all of you. May God be your helper. May the best of success be with you in fair and equal competition. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you with the hope that the games and the cup will contribute to our country, humanity, and world peace.
After the speeches, Muzaffer Tarık Afacan, on behalf of the athletes, and Zehra Yardimoglu, on behalf of the Technical Officers and Referees, were invited to the stage to take their oath. After the oath-taking, the ceremony ended with an exciting dance show called "Brotherhood Epic," prepared by Alagöz Culture and Art.
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