Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) has been awarded the title of “Sports-Friendly Campus” in recognition of its efforts to promote a culture of sports within campus life.
The Sports-Friendly Campus Certificate Presentation Ceremony took place in Rize, attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, and many university rectors. A total of 47 universities were granted the Sports-Friendly Campus Certificate during the event.
The certificate was received on behalf of Ondokuz Mayıs University by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten during the ceremony hosted by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University.
In his speech, Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak highlighted a significant transformation in sports infrastructure across Türkiye, stating:
“There has been a tremendous revolution in sports facilities in our country. Seeing vibrant, energetic universities fills us with pride. The initiative was launched last May 19 at Ondokuz Mayıs University in Samsun. The unifying and restorative power of sports is vital, especially for channeling the energy of our youth. Thanks to our President’s background in sports and our massive investments in sports infrastructure, we have achieved a revolutionary transformation nationwide—stadiums, indoor arenas, swimming pools, and athletics tracks have been built on an unprecedented scale.”
He emphasized the importance of integrating sports into university life as a lifestyle:
“We expect a more competitive and active university league. When we look at the Olympics, we see champions from universities like Stanford and the University of Texas. Similarly, our national athletes are enrolling in foundation universities with support from national athlete scholarships—around 460 national athletes have been admitted to these universities. We thank the administrators of these universities. We want sports to become a lifestyle at universities. Everything is for our youth and our country.”
YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar explained that this year’s evaluation process was carried out meticulously across 45 specific criteria:
“This year, out of 208 universities, 83 applied with a total of 98 campuses for the Sports-Friendly Campus title. After a preliminary assessment, 17 campuses were excluded due to insufficient documentation. The remaining 77 campuses, representing 66 universities, were evaluated and scored by an independent panel of 57 academics from Sports Sciences and Nutrition and Dietetics departments. Based on these evaluations, 48 campuses from 47 universities successfully met the criteria and were awarded the title of ‘Sports-Friendly Campus’.”
He added that in order to maintain sustainability, universities will be required to submit reports every three years:
“This title is not merely an award; it represents a systematic quality assurance process and a sustainable sports culture. To ensure continuity, the evaluations will remain valid for three years, during which universities must submit annual development reports.”
In his address, President of the World Ethnosport Confederation Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan stated:
“The fact that universities are engaging in healthy competition and taking steps to improve their shortcomings is very valuable. I congratulate both the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for this initiative. Congratulations to the 45 universities that received the certificate. I hope all university campuses in Türkiye become sports-friendly. I also hope to see an increase in the number of licensed athletes at the university level, with more young people actively involved in sports, and our national flag raised higher in international competitions. Thank you all. I wish this initiative continued success.”
The certificate verifies that OMU meets the standards of a Sports-Friendly Campus through its efforts to promote physical activity and sports, encourage healthy living habits, increase social interaction within campus life, raise awareness of sports among campus members, and cultivate a sustainable sports culture.
The project was first introduced last year at Ondokuz Mayıs University in Samsun, with the participation of around 100 national athletes from 35 different sports disciplines.
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