45 Thousand Square Meter Olympic Athlete Training Center Opened in Konya

In the Selçuklu district of Konya, the Selçuklu Athlete Selection and Training Center, one of the most concrete indicators of local governments' massive investments in sports, was brought to the agenda of the press and the public with a promotional program. The event, hosted by Selçuklu Mayor Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, was attended by AK Party Provincial and District executives, Club President Yavuz Tezcan, press members, and numerous guests. The center, where a promise made about a year ago while construction was still ongoing was kept, is currently operating at full capacity alongside the 2026 Summer Sports Schools period. Built on a total area of 45 thousand square meters and possessing 23 thousand 500 square meters of indoor space, this massive facility carries a groundbreaking quality for the region's sports infrastructure. Speaking at the opening program, Mayor Pekyatırmacı also met with young students training at the summer sports schools, providing significant support to their motivation.

Stating that Selçuklu Belediyespor maintains its title as one of Turkey's largest and most established amateur sports clubs, Pekyatırmacı emphasized that recent sporting successes are not a coincidence. In particular, the U15 Football Team's journey to become the Turkish champions was evaluated as a significant milestone that reveals how productive the infrastructure efforts have been. The municipal administration continues to take strategic steps not only to be content with current successes but also to discover the stars of the future today. Regularly producing national athletes in various branches, the club plans to achieve these goals on a much broader scale with the new center. The President expressed his belief that the fruits of this massive investment in the infrastructure will gradually be reaped in national and international arenas.

It was explicitly stated that one of the most fundamental and visionary goals of the center is to discover athletes who will represent Turkey in the international arena and bring medals to the Olympics. In this regard, a high-tech measurement and evaluation system, where the physical competencies of children will be subject to scientific criteria, will be implemented in the facility. Children whose speed, agility, coordination, and basic movement abilities are analyzed in detail will be directed to the sports branches most suitable for them in the light of the objective data obtained. Additionally, thanks to the close collaboration to be established with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the development processes of athletes whose talents are discovered will also be monitored at the national level. It is believed that proper specialization and professional guidance starting at an early age will be the key to major international successes in the future.

Alongside sports and infrastructure investments, the eco-friendly architecture of the center also draws great attention, revealing the facility's sustainability vision. Carrying the distinction of being Turkey's first LEED-certified green athlete center, the building has created an exemplary model for the sector with its modern and ecological design. Thanks to the solar energy panels installed on the roof, approximately 85 percent of the facility's total energy needs are met from renewable sources. In addition, thanks to the advanced gray water treatment system integrated into the facility, the water used is recycled, adopting a much more efficient and eco-friendly operational model. Thanks to this innovative infrastructure, both the carbon footprint of the facility is minimized, and a significant contribution is made to the goal of leaving a livable environment for future generations.

In the massive facility, professional training can be provided in 17 different branches simultaneously, and in this context, a very wide range is offered from swimming to football, and from gymnastics to basketball. The fact that a total of 5 thousand 226 students receive active sports training in this center alone, combined with the massive increase in the overall capacity of the facility, grows its impact on the regional sports culture. This year, the number of children benefiting from the summer sports schools exceeded 20 thousand, reaching a record level in terms of bringing the younger generation into sports. Thanks to the free shuttle services, which provide great convenience for families, the access of children from all over Selçuklu to these modern facilities is guaranteed. Both Club President Yavuz Tezcan and party representatives stated in their evaluations that this massive facility will add a great vision not only to Selçuklu but to all of Konya, and ultimately to Turkish sports.