Minister of Youth and Sports Bak started the UCI Gran Fondo Cycling Races in Antalya

Minister Bak and his entourage participated in the 6-kilometer COP31 Awareness Drive after the start.

Speaking to reporters at the starting point at The Land of Legends Mall in Belek Tourism Center, Bak said that more than 960 athletes from 44 countries participated in the organization.

Stating that they want to increase environmental awareness through sports such as cycling, Bak pointed out the importance of cycling for a clean environment.

Bak continued his words by emphasizing that cycling is also important for the development of sports tourism:

"As the Ministry, we attach great importance to sports tourism and work to develop it. Together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, we strive to develop and spread sports tourism in our country and to organize many activities. At this point, our Cycling Federation organizes the Presidential Cycling Tour and also organizes many cycling organizations in our country, including mountain biking, velodrome racing and other road races. The work of our Cycling Federation in this direction is important. Antalya, in particular, is a city that has stood out in sports tourism. We organize bicycling events here twice a year. "More than a thousand football teams are camping, cycling, basketball, volleyball teams and teams from other branches come to Antalya. At this point, Antalya has sufficient capacity in terms of both beds and sports facilities."

Noting that they, as the Ministry, support COP31, which is an important organization worldwide, Bak pointed out that the majority of COP31 volunteers consist of young people.

Stating that he expects a busy agenda at COP31, which will be held in Antalya under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bak said, "Turkey organizes large organizations successfully. We held the NATO Summit. We held the Organization of Turkic States Summit. Next week, there will be heads of state, heads of government and ministers from all over the world in Antalya, with a busy agenda. We will also take part in sessions here with our young people, both on a volunteer basis and in addition to other activities." We will take it." he said.

"We successfully organize many organizations from swimming to athletics"

Emphasizing that Türkiye has the capacity to host international sports organizations, Minister Bak said, "At this point, this organization is also important for us. As you know, we will hold the European Games in Istanbul in 2027. We will organize the 2032 European Football Championship. We successfully organize many organizations from swimming to athletics. We have this capacity. The organization companies in our country are also experienced and successful in this field. Transportation is easy, logistics is easy. There is Antalya with direct flights. We also have Istanbul Airport. Turkish Airlines is also preferred because it flies to many destinations." made his assessment.

Bak concluded his words by inviting citizens to ride bicycles on the way to work, to cycle with their children on weekends, and to enjoy cycling:

"We want the world to be green. We want the seas and waters to be blue like my eyes. That's why we are working to leave a beautiful world to future generations. The Zero Waste Initiative, also pioneered by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, has been accepted all over the world. The United Nations has also been accepted. We are trying to spread this to the country together with all our young people. We all need this environment."