Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç commented on the 23rd Summer Deaflympics, the grandest organization in Turkish sports history, saying “This city will have added an Olympic torch to the independence torch. They will befit each other.”
OMU Rector and Member of the 23rd Summer Deaflympics Preparatory and Regulatory Board, Prof. Dr. Bilgiç presented statements about Deaflympics 2017.
Stating that they started the preparations when the decision was taken to hold the Olympics in Samsun, Rector Bilgiç said “This Preparatory and Regulatory Board studiously continued their works under the presidency of the Then Minister of Youth and Sports Akif Çağatay Kılıç in order to house the Olympics in the best way possible. Our board is aware of its burdens and responsibility.
Pointing out that one of the most important jobs the university undertook is the Olympic Village; Bilgiç continued “The student dormitories within our university campus are of top quality. We will bear witness the very first Olympic village of Deaflympics in Turkey, the history of which can be traced back to Paris 1924. With the dormitories within the university campus of 4500 beds and the dormitories in the near surroundings, the total number of beds stands at 7500. We will be able to accommodate around 7500 guests in the Olympic village. Infrastructure has been readied to meet all kinds of sports needs of the sporters. Our campus is remarkable with its natural beauties as it is. We believe sporters and other participants alike will leave the Olympic village happily. We hope they remember us with good memories.”
Stating that the Olympics spirit will ensure unity and solidarity among people, Rector Sait Bilgiç said “Samsun is the city where the independence torch was lighted. Hence, Samsun will have added an Olympic torch to the independence torch. In this sense, I believe they will befit each other. Thus, Samsun has gained a new title. We will hopefully live and witness the benefits of being an Olympic city.”
Stating that the community realized the existence of a deficiency with the sign language campaign started in the city, OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Sait Bilgiç finished his words saying “As soon as it was announced that the Olympics would be held in Samsun, voluntary people commissioned in the olympics started learning the sign language with studies where our university was also a part of. Hopefully, communication will be realized with the participants through this education. Thus, the number of people in Samsun who knows the sign language has increased. A great number of these people are university students. Thus, when our students go to different regions of Turkey, they will be able to use the sign language they learned here in their own cities in case of need.
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