Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially inaugurated the UEFA Istanbul Office on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in Türkiye’s growing prominence in international sports.

In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony, Erdoğan emphasized Istanbul’s historic multicultural identity and Türkiye’s ambitions to become a global hub for major sporting events.

“I believe that Istanbul, which has been home to different faiths for centuries, will further consolidate its multicultural identity with the opening of UEFA’s Istanbul Office,” said President Erdoğan. The office is the third of its kind worldwide, following UEFA’s headquarters in London and Brussels.

Highlighting Türkiye’s sports infrastructure development over the past two decades, President Erdoğan declared that the country now possesses the capacity to host any international sports event, including the Olympics. “We speak with such self-confidence not out of vanity,” he noted, “but because of the services and projects we have introduced in our country over the past 23 years.”

According to the President, the number of sports facilities across Türkiye has nearly tripled, increasing from 1,575 to 4,470. “We have taken Türkiye to a higher league in sports investments,” he said. “With this UEFA office, we will increase our engagements and joint projects for the development of Turkish football.”

In addition to the focus on sports, President Erdoğan also addressed the nation’s recent earthquake, which struck parts of Türkiye on Tuesday. He extended his best wishes to affected citizens and assured the public that the government was responding swiftly. “We received the most up-to-date information during an AFAD meeting attended by relevant ministers and officials, and gave the necessary instructions,” he said. “Our main source of consolation is that there is no loss of life. All our state units are working in a spirit of mobilization.”

The opening of the UEFA Istanbul Office is seen as a key step toward deepening Türkiye’s engagement with European football and enhancing its influence within international sports organizations. (ILKHA)