Deputy Minister Çalışkan: “We support 516 thousand of our citizens”

Bocce Competitions for Special Athletes, organized by the Turkey Special Athletes Sports Federation, have started in the Marmaris district of Muğla.

About 300 special athletes, coaches, and administrators from different provinces participated in the organization held at the İçmeler KYK Dormitory, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Muğla Governorship, Zero Waste Foundation, and Muğla Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports.

Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Adil Çalışkan stated in his opening speech that such sports competitions addressing all segments of society are very important for supporting citizens' participation in social and cultural life.

Çalışkan emphasized that bocce contributes to the physical, social, and mental development of disabled and elderly individuals, saying, "Bocce is a great opportunity for them to experience positive social interactions, improve their social and communication skills, make friendships, and develop a sense of belonging to the community. Bocce has practically become an institutional sport branch of our Ministry. Our ultimate goal in all services carried out by the Ministry of Family and Social Services is to enable all citizens to realize their potential in social life and to lead independent lives."

- Number of disabled civil servants increased 15 times

Çalışkan described the Ministry's projects for disabled individuals as follows: "Our Ministry currently supports approximately 516 thousand citizens within the scope of home care services aimed at ensuring that disabled individuals live with their families or relatives in a dignified manner. Moreover, important measures have been taken in legislation and practice to ensure equal opportunities in both public and private sector employment of disabled individuals and to prevent loss of rights. Within this framework, with the e-KPSS implemented in cooperation with ÖSYM, disabled individuals have been assigned to positions suitable to their qualifications. Thus, the number of disabled civil servants, which was 5,777 in 2002, has increased 15 times to approximately 82,907 as of April 2026."

Çalışkan stated that accessibility is one of the most fundamental criteria for ensuring that disabled individuals participate equally with others in all areas of social life.

- "A state is made by how happy its people are"

Muğla Deputy Governor Halil Serdar Cevheroğlu also expressed that the main factor that makes a state a state is how happy it makes its people, women, children, disabled, and elderly.

Turkey Special Athletes Sports Federation President Birol Aydın drew attention to the fact that 20 years ago special children were locked in homes and ignored, saying, "Children who were said 'Nothing will come of these children' achieve historic successes when given the opportunity. Just provide the opportunity."

Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş said they want to achieve many firsts in Turkey and the world with special athletes and their families and to meet in joint projects.

Plaques were given to business people who contributed to the organization, and a performance was presented by the Muğla International Youth Center.

Awards were given to athletes who ranked on the first day.

The competitions will end on Saturday, July 4.