Istanbul continues its preparations at full speed to host the 2027 European Games. The Istanbul Olympic Games Preparation and Organizing Committee held an important meeting on Wednesday, October 1, at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Türkiye.

Chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister Hamza Yerlikaya, Director General of Sports Services Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır, Director General of International Organizations and Foreign Relations Ahmet Temurci, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Secretary General Volkan Demir, Turkish Olympic Committee (TMOK) President Ahmet Gülüm, Vice President Yunus Akgül, Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan, and representatives from relevant institutions.

One of the key decisions made during the meeting was the appointment of Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır, Director General of Sports Services, as the Director General of the Istanbul 2027 Organizing Committee. The organizational structure of the committee was also finalized.

During the preparation meeting, the sports disciplines to be included in the European Games program and submitted for approval by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) were also determined. The finalized list of sports will be shared with the EOC in the coming days and then announced to the public.

Hosting the 2027 European Games holds great significance for Istanbul, as it will strengthen the city’s sports infrastructure, enhance its international recognition, and create new opportunities for young athletes.