EGEMEN BAGIS SUPPORTS THE SPORTS MUSEUM

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis received the ex-national basketball player Ibrahim Kutluay and sports columnist Altan Tanrıkulu and indicated his support for a permanent sports museum that suits Istanbul.

In the reception held at the Secretariat General for European Affairs' Ortakoy Office, Egemen Bagis reminded the fact that Istanbul was announced as the 2012 European Sports Capital and once more highlighted that they were open for any suggestions made for the success of the project.

Minister Bagis indicated that Altan Tanrıkulu suggested to establish a permanent sports museum that would suit Istanbul and shared some of the sports objects he had collected throughout his professional life, including publications about Turkish sports in the Ottoman period, the tickets of significant events relating to great clubs and international sports circle, magazines and newspapers including the interviews of famous sportsmen and publications regarding Ibrahim Kutluay, who wore the national uniform for the longest period of time.

Bagis indicated that Tanrıkulu would be ready to grant his collection, if the state didn't own the project.

Bagis stated that he and Faruk Ozak, Minister of Sports, would also participate in the first preparatory meeting of 2010 European Sports Capital to be held on 2nd of February under the auspices of Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and that he would address the project in the meeting.

Source: AA