CHP Deputy Chairperson and Party Spokesperson Deniz Yücel has criticized Turkey’s failures in the field of sports. Yücel accused the government of repeatedly applying to host the Olympic Games but failing to win the bid, denouncing the administration’s sports policies in strong terms.
In a statement, Yücel said, “For 22 years, your administration has applied multiple times to host the Olympic Games and failed, condemning Turkey to failure in sports just as in every other field,” highlighting the inadequacies of the country’s sports policies. Yücel attributed the government’s failures in sports to a focus on concrete and profit, stating, “Your reason for applying to host the Olympic Games is not your love for sports, but your love for concrete and profit.”
Yücel also criticized the government’s threatening tone towards sports federations, saying, “And with your condescending, threatening, and ugly tone, you shamelessly say ‘I will hold the federations accountable.'” He argued that the government consistently shifts the blame for its failures in sports onto others to evade its own responsibilities.
Addressing the political interference in the selection processes of federations, Yücel remarked, “Weren’t the lists for the majority of federations prepared in the palace? From whom will you hold accountable?” Yücel concluded that as long as sports are managed with political favoritism rather than merit, low rankings in medal counts would be inevitable, asserting, “If you manage sports with politics instead of merit, if you intervene in federation elections to ensure ‘our guy’ is at the head of each federation, the result will be a 64th place in the medal rankings.”
Source: Statements from CHP Deputy Chairperson and Party Spokesperson Deniz Yücel.