Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Health Sciences Faculty, Department of Sports Sciences organized a panel titled “The Beautiful Game of Basketball”. The panel took place on Wednesday, the 20th of December 2017 at 14:30 in the Health Sciences Faculty Amphitheatre SBFYA 006. The panel moderated by EMU Health Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç also featured Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Basketball Federation President Ahmet Sütçü and ex-Turkish national team basketball player Ömer Onan, who is now Turkish Basketball Federation CEO. The panel was attended by a large number of academic staff and students. Delivering the opening speech of the panel Health Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç expressed her pleasure regarding hosting Ömer Onan and Ahmet Sütçü at EMU, thanking them for their valuable participation.
“Turkey is a Global Force in Basketball”
Turkish Basketball Federation CEO Ömer Onan stated that Turkey is a global force in basketball indicating that it is investments that lie beneath this success. Noting that they are working to build facilities and provide education in all corners of the country Onan answered students’ questions in a sincere manner. TRNC Basketball Federation President Ahmet Sütçü touched upon the progress of Turkish Cypriot basketball in recent years. Explaining the federation’s youth setup and educational efforts Sütçü indicated that he played basketball for 17 years and that it is an honor to be side by side with a legend like Ömer Onan. Sütçü also added that he is happy with the attention youth are showing towards basketball. At the end of the event, Turkish Basketball Federation CEO Ömer Onan and TRNC Basketball Federation President Ahmet Sütçü were presented plaques of appreciation by EMU Health Sciences Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mehtap Malkoç.
Visit to EMU Rector
After the panel, Turkish Basketball Federation CEO Ömer Onan and TRNC Basketball Federation President Ahmet Sütçü were received by EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Osam in his office. Thanking them for their visit to EMU, Prof. Dr. Osam provided information about EMU’s academic and sporting activities. Ömer Onan and Ahmet Sütçü relayed information about the running of their federations and discussed how basketball within the university can be improved.
