In Bursa, the mayors wore tracksuits and took to the field, competing fiercely with the youth

As part of the celebrations of the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day organized by the Osmangazi Municipality, mayors who took the field in the demonstration match of the 3×3 Atatürk and Youth Street Basketball Tournament played with the youth. In the enjoyable matches, the winners were the youth of Atatürk and Bursa.

In order to celebrate the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, which was gifted to the Turkish youth by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in the best way possible, Osmangazi Municipality prepared a program full of sports, music, and entertainment under the name of 1st Osmangazi Youth and Sports Festival. Osmangazi Municipality organized a special 3×3 Atatürk and Youth Street Basketball Tournament for the youth. The exhibition match of the tournament held on the basketball court set up in Osmangazi Square was between the mayors and the youth.

In the street basketball tournament hosted by Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, the team of mayors consisting of Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir, Gemlik Mayor Şükrü Deviren, CHP Bursa Provincial Chairman Nihat Yeşiltaş, CHP Osmangazi District Chairman Cengiz Çelikten, and Osmangazi Mayors Mucahit Yıldızhan and Fatih Vardar played two matches with the youth. The mayors’ team, winning the first match 7-2, also left the second match with a 5-2 superiority. In both matches, the victories came from Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın. Every basket scored by the mayors, showcasing their basketball skills, received great applause from the audience. Although the winners of both matches were the mayors’ team, the real winners were the youth of Atatürk and Bursa.

Aydın: ‘We want to set an example for our youth’
Following the enjoyable moments of the basketball matches, Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, in his statements, said, ‘Despite our busy agenda, age, and even weight, we wanted to set an example for our youth by engaging in sports. We wanted to show that sports is the way to stay away from all kinds of evils, to show peace and brotherhood by playing a demonstration match with our youth. As Osmangazi Municipality, we bring our youth together with sports, culture, art, and festivals. We have prepared a full program for the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. The celebrations will continue for three days. I congratulate all our youth on the holiday and invite them to the 1st Osmangazi Youth and Sports Festival events.’

Bozbey: ‘Our youth will celebrate national holidays with enthusiasm’
Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Mustafa Bozbey, who made beautiful baskets in the match, said in his speech, ‘On the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, which was gifted to the Turkish youth by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, we also tried to set an example for our youth. We want our youth to be interested in sports and arts. Let them be involved in at least one sport, play a musical instrument. Let them engage in fine arts. We expect this from our youth. Believe me, when our youth are like this, they will be much more successful, much happier, and more peaceful. Our youth in Bursa will celebrate the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day with enthusiasm this year and in the following years. Both metropolitan and district municipalities have prepared beautiful events for our youth. From today onwards, we invite all our youth to the celebrations.’

Özdemir: ‘We will laugh and have fun with our youth’
Nilüfer Mayor Şadi Özdemir stated that they will celebrate the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day by having fun and laughing with the youth, saying, ‘We came together with our youth in the opening match of the basketball tournament organized within the scope of the 19 May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day celebrations. It was quite enjoyable for us to participate in such an event in a busy schedule. We tried to keep up with the energy of our youth. Let our youth enjoy the holiday that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gifted them. Let them participate in the events we have prepared for them. This 19 May, we will have fun with our youth, we will laugh together.’