İmamoğlu signs the agreement!

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos, Italian National Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago, Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) Vice President Ali Kiremitçioğlu, and TMOK Secretary General Neşe Gündoğan, as well as Beşiktaş Club President Hasan Arat, who serves as an EOC Executive Committee member, were present at the signing ceremony held at the Sala della Protometeca. 

"YOU ARE INVITED TO ISTANBUL"

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Ekrem İmamoğlu addressed athletes and federations in Europe with the following remarks:

"My first call is to all the athletes of Europe. Come and showcase your talents in front of the most colorful and enthusiastic crowds in Europe. Come and be role models for new generations with your talents, capacity, and personality. My second call is to all Olympic sports federations in Europe. As Istanbul, we are open to all kinds of cooperation. Istanbul is a candidate not only for the Olympics and Paralympic Games but for all major organizations you will host from now on. 

Come, let us write many inspiring stories together. My third call is to all sports fans in Europe and the world. When you come to Istanbul, you will not only watch sports, but you will also have the opportunity to experience the best days of your life in the world's most exciting city. Come, let us meet in 2027 in Istanbul, where the most colorful cultures of Europe and the world blend together. You are invited to Istanbul, which is visited by nearly 20 million guests every year to have unique experiences." 

"THIS UNITY EMERGED THANKS TO THE UNIFYING POWER OF SPORTS"

Pointing out that everyone is united in line with Turkey's Olympic goal, İmamoğlu stated the following:

"This unity emerged thanks to the unifying power of sports. I believe that we are here together today not only for the European Games but also for an important meeting on behalf of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We are working to bring together the world's most important sports organization with Istanbul, an ancient world city that has served as the capital of three empires and has a historical depth of 8,500 years. 

We are aware that sports and the Olympic philosophy are among the greatest transformative powers in the world. During this period, we will also complete many new projects in the field of sports. In line with our goal of becoming an Olympic city, we are taking our first and biggest step by hosting the 2027 European Games. We know that the 2027 European Games will be a unique page in the history of our city and European sports."