20,000 Students Welcome Summer Sports Schools in Konya

Enthusiastic Start of Sports Activities in Konya With the arrival of summer 2026, the city of Konya has once again become the hub for youth sports activities in Turkey. According to reports published on June 29, the Selçuklu Municipality summer sports schools officially began their activities with exactly 19,926 students [1]. This level of participation, described as unprecedented at the regional level, demonstrates families' trust in the city's sports infrastructure and the younger generation's enthusiasm for physical activity after the end of the school year.

Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, the Mayor of Selçuklu, emphasized at the opening ceremony of these courses that sports for them is not just a recreational activity during holidays, but a project to cultivate character, discipline, and teamwork spirit in children and adolescents [3]. He noted that this year, with increased capacities, it has become possible for a larger number of students to attend.

Opening of Turkey's Largest Sports Talent Identification Center One of the most important features of this year's summer programs is the utilization of the country's largest and best-equipped "Athlete Selection and Training Center." This center, built on a site of over 45,000 square meters, features 23,000 square meters of indoor space [2]. These modern facilities are equipped with the latest sports technologies and have the capacity to host more than 3,300 athletes daily.

With the opening of this center, the admission capacity of sports schools has increased by about 40 percent compared to previous years [1]. In this scientific and specialized environment, students are trained under the supervision of professional coaches so that top talents can be identified and guided toward professional sports and national clubs [3].

Diversity of Disciplines and Free Services for Families Konya's summer sports schools in 2026 offer training in 17 diverse disciplines. These include swimming, football, taekwondo, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, karate, volleyball, wushu, kickboxing, judo, chess, wrestling, table tennis, archery (modern and traditional), and athletics [2].

To support families and promote sports, Selçuklu Municipality has provided all necessary sports clothing and equipment for students free of charge. Additionally, a free transportation system (shuttle) has been arranged for the safe transfer of students from all neighborhoods in the district to the sports centers and back home [1]. These courses will continue until August 29, 2026, and are expected to have a significant impact on physical health and reduce children's dependence on computer games during the summer [3].