Hasan Arat, one of the leaders of Istanbul 2020 and Vice President of the NOC of Turkey, said in a speech at Turkey’s exhibition stand at the Innsbruck 2012 Youth Games, that he believes Istanbul 2020’s bid team experiences at the Youth Olympics have left it better equipped than ever to harness the dynamism and ambition of Turkey’s youthful population.
He said, “the Innsbruck 2012 Organising Committee has done something very special here. It has been fascinating to see how they have engaged the local community, and particularly young people. We’ve learned some valuable lessons on how to connect youth from all over the world in a unified celebration of sport, and our Applicant City File will be stronger for it”.
Arat added, “Istanbul 2020 will revitalize an entire generation’s passion for the Olympic Movement. So much of the amazing economic, social, cultural and sporting development happening in Turkey right now is youth-driven and we want to make sure that continues. We are developing an exciting range of educational, entrepreneurial and training programs so that young people from all over the world can play their part in Games delivery and in realizing its sustainable legacy”.
