ISTANBUL RECEIVES THE FLAG OF 2012 EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORTS

Paying official visits in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, the Minister of European Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis participated in the handover ceremony for the European Capital of Sports which was organized in the European Parliament and where Mr. Kadir Topbas, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, received the flag of 2012 European Capital of Sports. 

In his speech at the handover ceremony, Bagis said: “With the occasion of 2012 European Capital of Sports, I invite those whose minds are blind, who drive people to discrimination and who oppose Turkey’s EU membership, to see Istanbul. Let’s breathe this different air together in Istanbul where the east and the west unite, the continents and the civilizations come together and the mosques, the churches and the synagogues find peace. I hope the year 2012 will provide an opportunity for Turkey and Europe to share a common voice and by means of this project, I hope Istanbul will prove that the difference is in fact richness to the whole world and especially to Europe, now in need of such an explanation”.

Remarking that a province, which is not in the EU, had been chosen as the European Capital of Sports for the first time, Bagis said: “The destination of the popular revolution which is characterized by the people, yelling for the democracy in the Tahrir Square is Istanbul because Istanbul, a province which is the most western of the east and the most eastern of the west, will continue to be a source of inspiration like a juncture as it has always been throughout the history.

Stating that he had no doubts that Istanbul would be one of the most successful provinces as European Capital of Sports, Egemen Bagis reported that Mr. Kadir Tobbas, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and his colleagues were preparing great projects for the year 2012.

Audiences warmly applauded when Gian Francesco Lupattelli, the President of the Federation for the Association of the European Capitals and Cities of Sport (ACES), announced that the flag for the year 2012 had been transferred to Istanbul and Mr. Kadir Tobbas, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, took the flag from the officers from Valencia.

Within the framework of his Brussels visit, Egemen Bagis participated in the meeting of the Turkey- EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, made a speech in the European Policy Center, and joined the traditional fast-breaking dinner in Muharrem Month in the Cultural Center for the Alevi Community located in Anvers.