Galatasaray Club organized the “Barrier-Free Lions Ball” in support of wheelchair basketball and the newly established Galatasaray Paralympic Academy.
The organization was held at Çırağan Palace with club president Dursun Özbek, his wife Mesude Özbek, vice president Metin Öztürk, members of the board of directors, Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team Head Coach Sedat İncesu, the technical team and players of the team, football A team captain Fernando Muslera, football players Kerem Demirbay and Serge Aurier, men’s basketball team captain Göksenin Köksal and point guard Buğrahan Tuncer, athletes from different branches and many people from the Galatasaray community attended.
The income generated from the ball will be used for the expenses of the wheelchair basketball team and Galatasaray Paralympic Academy.
Making a statement to the press before the organization, president Dursun Özbek said, “There are two purposes for organizing this balloon. The first is for the Galatasaray community to come together and hold meetings that will be beneficial to the club. The second is to support our disabled lions who are European and world champions. They deserve this support.” .” he said.
Regarding the Galatasaray Paralympic Academy project, Özbek said, “We have taken action for the academy that will include all disabled athletes, starting from basketball. Hopefully, we will reap the fruits in a short time.” he said.
The president of the yellow-red club stated that head coach Sedat İncesu will be the head coach of the academy and said, “Sedat coach is a trainer who devoted himself to this job and made this job his love. He is extremely successful. He deserves to be the head of the academy.” made his assessment.
Mayor Özbek’s wife, Mesude Özbek, stated that she developed the project herself and said, “We worked hard for this project.” said.
“GALATASARAY WILL BE IN THE FOREGOING AT THE PARALYMPICS”
Club vice president Metin Öztürk stated that the yellow-reds will also be at the forefront in the paralympic branches.
Recalling the international cups won by the Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team, Öztürk said, “A ball was organized here again in 2017 under the leadership of our president Dursun. With the serious donations received there, our disabled lions dominated the league for a long time. Now, under the leadership of our teacher Sedat, we have a team that will step into international success.” “The Paralympic issue is very important. Galatasaray is going for a new project in the next period. Galatasaray will be at the forefront in the Paralympics. We are working on this. Tonight is the beginning of this. The coming period will be the start of Galatasaray’s breakthroughs not only in football but also in the Paralympics.” he said.
Stating that Galatasaray is not just a football club, Öztürk said:
“Galatasaray was the first club to introduce Olympic sports in Turkey. We will transfer the revenues from Florya to the football infrastructure and amateur branches. There must be a constant income for success in amateur branches. During our management process, we will exit the restructuring agreement signed with the Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) . This means for us to get rid of the interest burden of approximately 1 billion lira annually. If this money is spent on amateur branches, we can become a successful club throughout Europe. Dursun Özbek management will achieve this within 2 months at the latest and eliminate the interest burden. Both the income from withholding taxes and the resources the club will create Moreover, the money coming from Florya will give Galatasaray continuity in sending athletes in amateur branches and to the Olympics. Otherwise, it is looking into the pocket of a president. In other clubs, a president stays for 15-20 years. In our case, the average term of a management is 1 year and 9 months. You cannot continue without failure. Galatasaray has come to a very different place in terms of sponsorships and grandstand revenue this season. We are sure that other clubs will follow our example. “Not only Galatasaray but also other teams will compete for sustainable success in amateur branches.”
“WE ARE LIVING IN A VERY IMPORTANT DAY”
Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team Head Coach Sedat İncesu said that he wanted to pay his debt of loyalty to his country with the project.
İncesu, who won many international cups with the yellow-red team, said, “All cups have their own story. They are all cups won with hard work in very difficult seasons. We aim to add another cup next to them. We are living a very important day. In 2005, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Galatasaray.” “Our wheelchair basketball team was established. We are starting our Galatasaray Paralympic Academy project on the 100th anniversary of our Republic. I think we owe this to Turkey. We have gained great experience not only in wheelchair basketball but also in the paralympic field.” made his assessment.
“With the project, we aim to reach all physically disabled people and direct them to the Paralympic areas.” İncesu said:
“We want to support our disabled people by determining in which branches they are talented, accompanied by experts. Afterwards, we want to talk about their medals. It is a very meaningful project for me. Maybe it is more meaningful than all the trophies I have won. As a coach trained in Galatasaray in Turkey, it is a tribute to my country.” “I think I owe it. Of course, it’s nice to enjoy the trophies, but we had to do this project.”
Stating that they will work like a sports school, Sedat İncesu said, “Our priority is the branches that exist in the club. On the other hand, in the sports school logic, we want to reach everyone who is less disabled than those who can only move their eyes. We aim to operate in all paralympic branches by guiding them with experts.” he said.