The 2025 Türkiye Optimist Team Championship, opened by Mayor Turan, began at our Canoe and Rowing Sports Centre in Haliç

Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality stated that the 2025 Türkiye Optimist Team Championship, which he opened at our Canoe and Rowing Sports Centre in Haliç, provides an important arena for young sailors aiming to join the national team. Mr. Turan, the Mayor emphasised that the four-day competition has made Haliç (Golden Horn) a prominent centre for sailing.

The 2025 Türkiye Optimist Team Championship kicked off with a ceremony held at the Fatih Municipality Canoe and Rowing Sports Centre in Haliç, considered the heart of Istanbul's maritime history. Organised by the Turkish Sailing Federation and the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, the championship was opened by Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality.

Mr. Turan, who met with athletes, coaches and families at the opening ceremony, pointed out that sailing is not only a racing field, but also a school where young people gain discipline, strategy and team spirit. He also said, "Haliç has been an important centre of maritime culture and navigation throughout history. Today, our young sailors are sailing here to get one step closer to their national goals. This event is not only a championship, but also symbolises the unifying power of sport and hope for the future. I sincerely wish success to all our teams who will compete with the wind for four days."

Dozens of optimist teams from different provinces of Türkiye will compete fiercely throughout the four-day championship to make the best use of the wind of Haliç, to outperform their rivals with fast manoeuvres and to book a place for themselves in the National Team selection. The races will become even more exciting with the surprises created by the changing wind conditions and will test the technical skills, composure and strategic decision-making abilities of young athletes.

Hundreds of spectators will support the athletes on the shores of Haliç (Golden Horn) during the organisation. The races, which can be followed from the tribunes, the piers of the canoe and rowing centre and even from the shoreline, are of great importance in terms of reaching sailing to a wider audience in Istanbul. Turkish Sailing Federation officials emphasise that this championship is an important step for young talents to gain experience on a national scale at an early age.

The event stands out not only as a sports organisation, but also as a meeting of maritime culture. Promotional stands organised in the race area, informative activities for children who are new to sailing and technical training sessions turn the championship into a learning and development area for young athletes. While families witness their children establishing a closer bond with the sea, workshops and shows that will increase interest in sailing also attract great interest.

The teams that rank highest in the championship, where the final races will be held on August 3rd, will have an important advantage in the National Team selection. The award ceremony will take place in the historical texture of Haliç and the winning teams will lift their trophies in this special atmosphere symbolising the friendship between the wind and the sea.

Experts state that this organisation will contribute to Istanbul becoming a centre of attraction in national and international sailing races and that Haliç (Golden Horn) will gain more value as a training ground for young sailors.

This great meeting, which started in Haliç at the heart of Istanbul, where history and sports intersect, will continue to provide sailing lovers with exciting moments for four days.