Triathlon Balikesir Press Launch

The promotional launch of the European Triathlon Cup, which will be held in Balıkesir between 30 July-1 August 2021, was held at the Fatih Hall of the Courtyard Congress Center. 1,300 athletes, 268 of them foreign, will participate in the European Triathlon Cup, which will be held in Balıkesir in the categories of youth and elites.

At the launch with the participation of Turkish Triathlon Federation President Bayram Yalçınkaya, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yücel Yılmaz, European Triathlon Federation Representative Angeliki Thoma and Balıkesir Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Lokman Arıcıoğlu, the track at the Balıkesir leg of the European Triathlon Cup was introduced.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Turkish Triathlon Federation President Bayram Yalçınkaya said that Balıkesir has a special place in triathlon and said, "There was a tirathlon in Balıkesir before there was a Federation in Turkey. Balıkesir has always supported triathlon. "We are doing very serious joint work, so we organize 3 organizations in Balıkesir. We introduced the Barana culture to the athletes who came to Dursunbey. It was a special day for me, frankly. At that time, we could not organize a big organization because of the funeral of the martyr. This time we could not organize this culture." We want to introduce this culture to people from all over Turkey. We don't just see it as a sport, we see it as tourism. Last week, we had 600 athletes in the races we held on Avşa Island, this was more than a thousand with their guests. 90 percent of them visited Avşa for the first time. In this way, we also contribute to the promotion of Balıkesir and the increase of its athlete potential. I think that if we make a good, quality organization here, we will raise the bar here and organize it in the form of a World Cup or a championship for the advanced level. In Balıkesir, we have very serious studies with our esteemed director, esteemed president and ministry. We are working on both education and opening a seed center here. We think of Balıkesir as a triathlon center because right now the biggest athlete potential is here.”

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Turkish Triathlon Federation President Bayram YalçınGiving the good news that a protocol was signed between Balıkesir University and the ministry, Federation President Yalçınkaya said that triathlon coaching specialty branch will be opened at the university.

Yücel Yılmaz: "Sports suits us"

Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Yücel Yılmaz said that the number of people interested in triathlon sports is quite high in Balıkesir. Yilmaz; “We care about all sports, but triathlon, swimming, basketball and oil wrestling we want to be known as a city. These are the sports that are in our genes. When you look at the genes of Balıkesir, we have a gene that has migrated from the Balkans, is tall, has bones in swimming, basketball, running, and can do these things well. Hybrid genes are strong. This is where Turkey and Anatolia blend together. Single races are weak and cannot keep up with the times. We, as Balıkesir, have Georgian, Circassian, Muhacır and Greengrocers, all in the same village. Our aptitude for sports is very high. We are a city where residents seek sports for their children as economic conditions increase. As a city where green and blue come together in nature, sports suit us, triathlon suits us the most," he said.

At the launch, Balıkesir Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Lokman Arıcıoğlu talked about the state of Balıkesir in terms of establishment and the ministry investments.

Angeliki Thoma, Representative of the European Triathlon Federation, said that she saw a light in the city of Balıkesir, and that if Balıkesir develops itself, it can sign larger organizations. Angeliki Thoma also stated that the Courtyard Balikesir, where the European Triathlon Cup will be held, is very suitable for triathlon.

On the other hand, 1,300 athletes, 268 of whom are foreigners, will participate in the European Triathlon Cup, which will be held in Balıkesir in the categories of youth and elites.