From Olympia to Famagusta: Why Not?

The recorded history of the Olympics dates back to Olympia in Ancient Greece in 776 BC. The historical legacy of these competitions, which brought athletes together from different cities, transformed into a new international gathering with the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. In the past of the Olympics, which we today regard as one of the world's greatest sports organizations, lies believing in an idea and working to realize it.

You might say, "Where did the topic of the Olympics come from now?" The reason for this brief historical introduction was a goal put forward by the EMU Rector in his closing speech at the Football Tennis World Championship: Why shouldn't football tennis be a part of the Olympics?

Frankly, I found this question very valuable. I congratulate the Mr. Rector for setting such a future-oriented goal right after a completed organization. Because the horizon of institutions also broadens with the new questions they can ask after the work they carry out.

In my previous article, I dwelt on the meaning of EMU bringing athletes from different countries together on the same field. I emphasized that the university's relationship with the world deepens through the encounters experienced on campus. I care about the theme of 'Healthy Life and Sports Year' touched upon by our Rector in his opening speech within this framework. This approach, which brings the physical, mental, and social development of young people to the common agenda of the university, gained a new forward-looking dimension with the Olympic goal expressed at the closing.

The history of the Olympics shows that the horizon of sports can change. For instance, the inclusion of squash and flag football in the Los Angeles 2028 program is among the current examples of new branches finding a place for themselves on the Olympic stage. Of course, each branch has its own unique conditions and a long working process ahead. However, we do not have to accept the current situation as the immutable limit of the future.

Football tennis's journey to the Olympics also requires international cooperation, popularization, and strong institutional work. The real value of our Rector's question lies in calling us to think about this effort. When the question 'Why not?' is followed by the question 'What can we do for this?', a dream begins to transform into a target that can be worked on.

As a member of the Board of Trustees, I believe that EMU possesses the accumulation to contribute to this idea. Our knowledge and experience in various fields ranging from sports sciences to communication, and from education to organization management, can meet with the collaborations to be established with federations. The experience gained in hosting can be the beginning of new researches, student participation, and international relations.

Right here, I also want to touch upon how such an important gathering was met by the leaders of the society.

According to what the organizers conveyed, Mr. President Tufan Erhurman had communicated that he would attend the closing ceremony, but could not attend due to health reasons and sent his sports advisor. I convey my best wishes for a speedy recovery to him. I also find it meaningful that he was represented through his advisor.

However, frankly, I did not see a public statement by Mr. President regarding an international event of this scale. If there was a statement made while I was writing this article that I did not come across, of course, this evaluation of mine should be read within that framework.

What I want to dwell upon is social ownership beyond attendance at the ceremony. I would expect a societal leader to publicly support such an organization bringing together athletes from different countries in his country. A message appreciating the efforts of the athletes, thanking those who realized the organization, and emphasizing the value of this gathering for our country would have been important.

Because the words of leaders also make visible what society values. Hearing that sports, youth, and international gatherings are cared about gives courage to the athlete on the field, the staff working in the organization, and the young person in the stands. I believe that such moments when our country connects with the world should be embraced more strongly.

I would also like to share the thought awakened in me by the goal put forward by our Rector. Let me add a dream to his dream regarding the future of football tennis: The 2036 Summer Olympics being held in our Turkey and football tennis becoming a part of the Olympic program.

I express this not as a certainty of development, but as a future that I desire to happen. Behind such a future will lie years of preparation, diplomacy, sporting development, and institutional cooperation. The value of the dream lies in calling a person to undertake these responsibilities.

Imagine; the athletes of a branch we watched in Famagusta today step onto the Olympic field in Turkey one day. A young person sitting in the stands today represents his country on the field that day. An acquaintance starting here turns into a sports cooperation lasting years. Even thinking about such a possibility enables us to look at the work we do today from a longer time horizon.

I hope that the vision of the 'Healthy Life and Sports Year' will also nourish this horizon. More students playing sports, trying new branches, and incorporating movement into their daily lives will strengthen the ground upon which big goals will rely. The Olympic dream gains meaning with the spread of sports on campus and in society.

The championship held at EMU has ended. However, I want the question posed at the closing to remain open. We can keep this question alive with new studies, relationships, and concrete steps.

I congratulate the Mr. Rector once again for presenting this horizon. Now it falls upon us to think about what contribution we can offer around that target.

History extending from Olympia to today shows that the world people build through sports can expand. Perhaps years later, we will remember this question raised in Famagusta as a meaningful beginning:

Why not?