TUR - Olympic Qualifying Tournament bid: Turkey profile

ANKARA (Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - With the bids of Argentina and Czech Republic having been presented over the course of last week, we turn our attention to Turkey, the third and final country bidding to host the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women.

In our interview with Emir Turam, the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) Director of International Relations outlines Turkey's bid and explains a little more about women's basketball in Turkey.

FIBA: Can you explain to us why you are bidding for this championship?

Emir Turam: Right after the Turkish Men’s  team became the silver medallist of Europe in 2001, TBF initiated a 15 year development plan for Turkish Women’s Basketballl.

Quite a few aspects of this plan have been currently achieved within the last decade, with a few still to come – first time ever appearance of Turkish women in the Olympics in 2012 and the fullfilment of further goals regarding competitive achievements at top levels.

We believe that by organising the tournament, TBF can significantly contribute to global  women’s basketball . We are also planning on sustainable social responsibility programs aiming at the empowerment of women in society within our wider geographical, social and political region.

We believe our social responsibility program will provide FIBA with an unique opportunity to center around basketball a very effective social achievement for the benefit of all people – something which will positively single out FIBA among other international sports federations.

We are also looking fort he motivation the tournament will provide fort he further development of Turkish Basketballl…

FIBA: What are the strong points of your bid?

Emir Turam: Our motivation to carry Turkish Women’s Basketball to the next level -
The internationally acclaimed organisational strength of the Turkish Basketball Federation assisted by the huge potential of Turkish Women’s basketball (see TBF provided factsheet below).

The strong commitment of the Turkish Government to create a flashing milestone towards Turkey’s bid for the 2020 Olympics by staging a flawless Olympic Qualiying Tournament in women’s basketball.

FIBA: How big of an advantage will playing at home be for your team?

Emir Turam: Playing at home is always a motivator when you are playing for your country, because the energy of the fans help create a powerful atmosphere. In countries like Turkey where ‘national concepts’ are valued highly no matter in which context, we will be looking forward to creating a great basketball atmosphere for our team and also for all the visiting teams. We are already working on awareness and public support programs around our bid which consist of projects that will strongly take off after a positive response from the Central Board towards our candidcy as we are hoping  for. We believe that the atmosphere at the Sinan Erdem Dome during the recent 2010 World Championship is a strong reflection of what we can do for our women; and all the visiting women...

FIBA: Apart from home court advantage, what will hosting an Olympic Qualifying Tournament bring to your country and to basketball there?

Emir Turam: The tournament will be a motivational drive for all stakeholders of women’s basketball (as explained above) to take Turkish Women into the next stage…

The position of Women’s Basketball will be strenghened due to increasign popularity and demand; TBF will most likely announce the establishment of the Women’s Regional League (3rd Division).

Finally, basketball will create sustainable options for girls in developing regions of Turkey.


FIBA: What is the greatest moment in your country’s basketball and how big of an achievement would it be for your team to qualify for the 2012 Olympics?

Emir Turam: The greatest moment for Turkish Men’s Basketball was the silver medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championship; the greatest moment for Turkish Women’s Basketball was the silver medal for EurobasketWomen2011.

Qualifying fort he Olympics will be another first time ever for Turkish women and will establish a very important milestone into the future (the Turkish men 's national team has already participated twice).


FIBA: Would you like to provide us with any further information bout the city, the venue and anything else that you might want to share?

Emir Turam: The tournament will be staged in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Living up to the organisational trademark of Turkish Basketball, top quality organisational platforms and procedures will be used – 5 star hotels, top quality accommodation, meals, busses, and all other vehicles that are decisive in providing top athletes the best circumstances to compete in.

Top of the art media services in order to provide journalists and other media members the most convenient platforms to proceed with their work and actually promote our beloved sport to the next level; top rate side events, entertainment programs and fan zones in order to provide visiting basketball lovers with a memorable experience.

And of course there's the Ankara Arena, the most modern multi-purpose arena in Turkey which was also used as an official venue for the World Championship in 2010, with its 10,500 seats, numerous supportive areas and platforms including an in-house practice facility.

Emir Turam on women's basketball in Turkey

• Turkey is the only secular (98%) Muslim country in the world where among many other ‘western norms’ of civil rights, women are constitutionally granted equal rights with men which are state protected and guaranteed.
• Turkey constitutionally granted its women unconditional full rights to elect and to be elected to all representative positions including municipal and parliamentary seats in 1934 before many European countries (including Switzerland).
• First ever Olympic participation of Women's team in London 2012
• Turkey has organised European Championships for women in almost all age categories
• The Turkish Women’s League has been played since 1959, averages more then 1,200 spectators per game and includes some of the top players including: Diana Taurasi  (WNBA MVP and top scoring queen) Sylvia Fowles  (ELW All-Star MVP, WNBA MVP) Penny Taylor (FIBA World Championship for Women MVP) Alba Torrens  (MVP of ELW Finals) Tina Charles  (Rebounding Queen and ‘double-double’ queen of the WNBA) Angel McCoughtry.
• There are currently 40.229  female, 164.967 male licensed basketball players in Turkey
• Turkey organizes city, regional and national championships for all age groups of women’s basketball – including mini-basket festivals
• The TBF has developed a 10-year development plan for women's basketball, looking - among others - to increase participation, build on National Team success, develop players through academies, link activities to social responsibility programs focusing of the empowerment of women in sport and society
• Currently the silver medalist of Europe, the Turkish Senior Women’s national team has been taking part in international competition since 1964.
• First ‘world appearance of Turkish girls during the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship in France; qualified for 2012 edition in Netherlands.

Turkey hosting women's basketball

• 2005 Eurobasketwomen
• 2010 Children of the World – 13 year old female (and male) Young players from 106 contries were brought together in Istanbul for an unprecedented week of sharing basketball and culture
• 2012 Euroleague Women Final 8 (as well as Euroleague men Final Four - a first)
  
• 2014 World Championship Women
  

FIBA

Click here to find out more about the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Men and for Women.