Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) hosted Dilek Sabancı Mixed Football Project Activity organized in collaboration with Special Olympics Turkey, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The event titled “Mixed Futsal Tournament and Healthy Athlete Screenings” took place at the EMU Lala Mustafa Paşa Sports Complex.
Special Olympics Turkey which carries out its operations under Special Olympics, a non-governmental amateur athletics organization in 177 countries working in collaboration with 225 partners, continued its activities that provide training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities by organizing the Dilek Sabancı Mixed Football Tournament.
Organised in collaboration with EMU, special athletes and their partners displayed performences in the branch of mixed football. All participating athletes were examined by volunteer clinical directors from Turkey in 3 different medical fields. The activity received high participation with 56 special athletes and their partners, coaches,doctors, teachers and volunteers being presented medals at the end of the tournament.
“Live Together, Play Together”
Speaking at the event opening, Special Olympics Turkey Executive Board Chair Mehmet Civelek stated “We continue to introduce events and activities organized with the purpose of integrating special children into social life. We are extremely happy to create an environment where our children mingle with their peers, compete and win together. We extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to Eastern Mediterranean University for hosting us and giving us the opportunity to beautify life through games. This year, together with Eastern Mediterranean University’s volunteering students, once again we say, “Live Together, Play Together”.
Following Civelek, Rector of EMU Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam expressed his pleasure in hosting the event for the second time at Eastern Mediterranean University. Expressing his happiness and pride in observing the success of individuals with special education needs in the field of sports, Prof. Dr. Osam added that special value should be given to special people. Following the speeches, the matches commenced after two children one of whom was from a special children’s group took a sports oath.
A Conference on “Special Care: Health”
Along with the Dilek Sabancı Mixed Football Project Tournament, a conference titled “Special Care: Health” took place at the EMU Health Sciences Faculty for the first time in the TRNC, including participant speakers from Argentina, India, Romania, Turkey and the TRNC. The conference hosted discussions on health issues in individuals who need special care. During the conference, data on health screening applied by Special Olympics in different countries was also shared with participants.
