The Summer Sports Schools, launched on 1 July by the Department of Youth and Sports Services, concluded after two months of activities. Designed for children aged 7–17, the programme aimed to help children make productive use of their summer holidays through sport, education and social activities, support their physical, mental and social development, and promote a wider culture of sport.

Free Training in 15 Different Sports

As part of the Summer Sports Schools, children received free training in 15 different disciplines: women’s and men’s football, basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, chess, traditional folk dances, handball, robotics and coding, mind and intelligence games, and gymnastics.

Training was delivered by specialist instructors, with emphasis not only on developing children’s sporting skills but also on fostering team spirit, discipline, self-confidence, solidarity and a culture of working together.

Training Held at Eight Sports Facilities

Training under the programme was held at Sümerpark Common Living Area, Talaytepe Sports Complex, Pitch No. 2 at Seyrantepe Sports Complex, 75 Indoor Tennis Courts, Yeniköy Neighbourhood Sports Ground, Toplu Konut Outdoor Swimming Pool, Gökkuşağı Sports Complex and Kardeşlik Park.

The use of sports facilities in different parts of the city enabled children to attend training at venues close to where they live.

Swimming Attracts the Highest Number of Participants

A total of 8,377 children benefited from the free Summer Sports Schools, with swimming attracting the highest number of participants, at 2,935. The programme also attracted 1,315 participants in men’s football, 785 in volleyball, 702 in taekwondo, 470 in basketball, 376 in gymnastics, 353 in robotics and coding, 305 in mind and intelligence games, 268 in traditional folk dances, 257 in tennis, 237 in chess, 128 in women’s football, 88 in table tennis, 85 in handball and 73 in athletics.

‘We Reached 8,377 Children’

Mizgin Karaman, Head of the Sports Unit at the Department of Youth and Sports Services, said the 2026 Summer Sports Schools had been completed, adding: “As part of the Summer Sports Schools, we reached 8,377 children across 15 different sports at eight sports facilities.”

Karaman said the Summer Sports Schools had been organised to help children make productive use of their summer holidays and stay away from digital dependency and harmful habits. She added: “As Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, we see sport as a space where children can express themselves, form new friendships and develop a spirit of solidarity.”

Talented Children Invited to Join Sports Club

Karaman noted that talented children had also been identified through the programme, saying: “We discovered many talented children through the Summer Sports Schools. We invited these children to join Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club. We will introduce the new talents we discovered through the Summer Sports Schools to our professional sports disciplines.”

Sports Equipment Provided to Children

Karaman said children were provided with various sports equipment throughout the training period, adding: “We provided children participating in the Summer Sports Schools with all the necessary facilities. From swimming caps and goggles to equipment used in football, volleyball, basketball, mind and intelligence games, taekwondo and chess, we provided them with a range of materials as gifts.”

‘We Do Not See the Summer Sports Schools as Just a Course’

Emphasising that the Summer Sports Schools were not simply a course providing sports training, Karaman said: “We do not see the Summer Sports Schools as just a course. We see them as a space where children can develop themselves, express themselves and come together in a spirit of solidarity.”