Basketball Festival in Atakum

The Street Basketball Tournament organized by Atakum Municipality in Samsun was held to encourage young people to engage in sports. In the tournament, which saw the competition of 140 athletes and 35 teams, the finalists were rewarded with educational scholarships.

The tournament, organized in collaboration with Atakum Municipality, Atakum Belediyespor, and colleges, aimed to motivate young people to participate in sports. The event, held at the court located opposite the meteorology office in Denizevleri Neighborhood, provided exciting and entertaining moments for the spectators. Teams made up of children aged 7-18 competed fiercely over three days. The players of the teams that ranked received the right to educational scholarships.

Champions were determined

In the tournament, 140 athletes and 35 teams competed in 4 categories. In the 2007-2008 group, where 8 teams competed, Samsunspor B came in first, Samsunspor A second, and The Last Dance third. In the 2009-2010 group, which also had 8 teams, Maarif 1 secured the first place, Notorious took second, and Maarif 2 claimed third place. In the 2011-2012-2013 group, where 11 teams faced off, the Basketball Team finished in first place, Maarif SK 1 came in second, and Wild Hunt Turkey took third. In the 2014-2015-2016-2017 group, 8 teams competed, with Bafra Basketball finishing first, SBA Kings second, and Anka 2 third.

The tournament, filled with thrilling matches, captivated citizens with its entertainment value. Atakum Mayor Serhat Türkel watched the matches alongside the citizens. The spectators thanked Mayor Türkel for his support of sports activities for the youth and requested an increase in the number of events. Citizens expressed, “Our mayor is passionate about sports and has always acted selflessly. We wish for a more beautiful life intertwined with sports for the youth of Atakum. We know that our mayor will be a pioneer in this area and will open up opportunities for young people.”

In his speech at the event, Atakum Belediyespor Club President Ceyhun Ercan stated that the tournament’s role in encouraging sports is extremely important, saying, “You have shown today that sports can be done comfortably at any time and in any way. I wish success to all athletes. I thank President Volkan for organizing this event. Especially, I would like to thank Atakum Mayor Serhat Türkel. He is the biggest supporter of sports. Together with our mayor, we will do serious work in Atakum and make it a sports city. Follow Atakum Belediyespor; they will do great things.”