Is the work being done for sports to take its deserved place as a significant social activity in Turkey, as it is an indispensable passion and lifestyle in developed countries worldwide? Do the efforts to encourage sports for the development of a physically and mentally healthy society, one of the fundamental elements for nurturing, result in an increase in the number of athletes among the masses? How much do we engage in or love sports?

“I’ll do sports, but are there facilities?”

Although football is the most beloved sport in Turkey, there are currently 46 sports federations under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. There are 13,441 sports clubs and 6 million licensed athletes in the country today. While there were around 1,600 facilities in the early 2000s, approximately 1,700 facilities have been built in the last 15 years. Due to the lack of a sports habit throughout the country, these facilities are not utilized to their full capacity.

How much do adults engage in sports?

According to a study by Ege University, inactivity poses a serious threat to public health, with a 96% non-engagement rate in adults aged 20 and over, presenting a significant threat to the country’s future. As urbanization increases, the habit of engaging in sports decreases rather than increases. In metropolitan areas, only 1 out of 4 people can find opportunities and facilities for sports.

How much sports do adults engage in?

According to a social survey conducted by Poltio, when asked the question “Do you do sports?” 46% responded with “Yes.” Among the 54% who stated they do not engage in sports, 60% mentioned a lack of time, 17% did not enjoy sports, 15% did not know the correct training methods, and 8% believed sports were unnecessary. The survey revealed that 52.3% of those who do not currently engage in sports want to start within a year, while 47.7% have no intention of starting. According to the survey, 32.7% of those engaging in sports are motivated by a healthy lifestyle. Following that, 18.7% aim to lose weight, 17.7% want to feel good, 14.1% strive to be fit, 10% want to build muscle, 5% aim for sports to become a habit, and 1.8% intend to gain weight.

How much sports do our children engage in?

According to a P&G research, the situation is more serious for children. In Turkey, only 2 out of 10 children can engage in conscious sports. One parent from every 10 families regularly allocates time for sports. One of the most striking results is that despite the increasing number of sports facilities in Turkey, the rates of regular sports engagement among families and children are still at significantly low levels.

These numbers and statistics show that our country needs millions of sports volunteers. To promote sports and make our people love it…