Ankara: The French Embassy in Trkiye and the Women’s Football Club Association organized an event titled “Women’s Sports in Trkiye” in the Turkish capital Ankara, aligning with International Women’s Day. In her opening speech at the Friday event, France’s Ambassador to Trkiye Isabelle Dumont emphasized the ongoing journey toward gender equality, noting the achievements of women athletes in Trkiye, who won six of the country’s eight Olympic medals and 17 of the 28 medals in the Paralympics last summer.

According to Anadolu Agency, the event held at the French Embassy Residence featured speeches by former professional basketball player and journalist Sukran Albayrak, Besiktas Women’s Football Team Administrative Manager Nergiz Bulut, and Women’s Football Club Association President Berivan Colak Yildirim. They addressed various challenges faced by female athletes, including gender equality and discrimination in sports, the development of women’s sports in Trkiye and globally, and the lack of sponsorship and financial support for women’s sports.

Following the discussions, a mini women’s football tournament was held on the embassy field, featuring six teams composed of five players each. The event was attended by notable figures such as Samsunspor Marketing Director and women’s rights lawyer Zeycan Yildirim, along with members of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality FOMGET Under-17 Girls’ Football Team and the Genclerbirligi Under-15 Girls’ Football Team.