6 February 2023
The ‘‘Movement to Overcome’’ campaign — launched by the Turkish Beyazay Association and carried out under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to bring people with and without disabilities together through sport — was presented in Erzincan.
The Movement to Overcome campaign launch programme, held at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and hosted by the Erzincan branch of the Turkish Beyazay Association, was attended by the Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Binali Yıldırım, AK Party Erzincan MPs Sebahattin Karakelle and Serkan Bayram, the Governor of Erzincan Süleyman Kahraman, the Mayor of Erzincan Cemalettin Başsoy, the President of the Turkish Beyazay Association Lokman Ayva, Acting President Aylin Çiftçi and the President of the Erzincan branch Yunus Kılıç, together with athletes with and without disabilities.
Speaking at the programme, the President of the Turkish Beyazay Association, Lokman Ayva, said: ‘‘People with and without disabilities need to get to know one another. That is why we wanted to bring people together at a beneficial event. If both people with disabilities and people without disabilities do sport together, they will come to know one another. Through the ‘Movement to Overcome' campaign held under the auspices of our President, we will break down barriers with sport.’’
The Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, Binali Yıldırım, said: ‘‘We wish to bring people with and without disabilities into life together. Barriers are not in bodies but in minds. I congratulate and commend the Beyazay directors for the ‘Movement to Overcome' campaign launched by the Turkish Beyazay Association. Our President supports this campaign at the highest level.’’
After the opening speeches, people with and without disabilities played table tennis together and took part in shooting and gymnastics.