As part of International Women’s Day 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is promoting grassroots initiatives that give women and girls the opportunity to access and benefit from sport. A prime example is the Turkish Olympic Committee’s “Empowering Girls through Sport” project, which since its launch in 2021 has positively impacted approximately 1,500 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 in three disadvantaged cities in Turkey – Gaziantep, Şanliurfa and Diyarbakir.
Supported by the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity program, this project provides continued access to sport in communities where girls’ participation in sports activities and school attendance, especially after high school, are low. So far, four sports schools have been established offering specialized training in seven Olympic sports: badminton, basketball, gymnastics, handball, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
IMPACT ON EDUCATION AND GENDER PERCEPTION
The project not only seeks to develop the girls’ physical skills, but also to strengthen their confidence and self-esteem, as Nese Gundogan, secretary general of the Turkish Olympic Committee, explains: “We started this project to contribute to the physical, mental and social development of our girls through sport. We wanted to build their confidence and support them in continuing their education.”
The results are encouraging: 61.5% of the participants have improved their academic performance, and 96.7% have expressed a strong desire to pursue higher education. In addition, the project is changing gender perceptions in the communities and increasing parental awareness of the benefits of sport for girls.
INSPIRATION THROUGH ROLE MODELS
The project also inspires girls by connecting them with role models such as Eda Erdem, captain of the national volleyball team and a member of the Turkish Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission. Erdem, a three-time Olympian, plays a key role in promoting the project’s mission. One participant commented, “Since I joined the school, I am very happy. I love spending time with my friends and coaches. I want to be an athlete like Eda Erdem one day.”
Another example is Aliye Demirbağ, a badminton player who represented Turkey at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. “I hope these girls will not give up on their dreams and turn them into reality in the future,” she said. More than 75% of the project participants now dream of professional careers in sports.
LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
The success of the project is also due to the role of the coaches, who not only provide sports training, but also act as mentors, guiding the girls in aspects of life. Its impact has been highly positive, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from the students.
The Turkish Olympic Committee is committed to continuing the project and is looking to expand it to other cities with similar challenges. As one coach explained, “This project is like planting a tree. If you cut it down too early, it will never reach its full potential. Its continuity is essential for the development of these girls.”
