During his remarks at the 'Citizen Diplomat Project: Türkiye's Global Representation in Sports' event, organised by the Directorate of Communications, Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "We will continue to convey Türkiye's potential and rising power to the whole world."
Highlighting the deepening regional conflicts and crises in the first quarter of the 21st century, Head of Communications Altun remarked that, today, they face political, social, and economic challenges and that the nature of international relations has also undergone change and transformation in this environment.
Head of Communications Altun explained that despite the pursuit of international relations in the classical sense and the conflicts, crises, and wars that arose, new channels for interaction between states and societies have been established and continued his remarks as follows:
"In this era of heightened globalisation, where the movement of people, ideas, and commodities is accelerating, inter-state as well as inter-society interactions are at the forefront. Furthermore, the processes of interaction between societies are also evolving, and a novel understanding of public diplomacy, which we now refer to as individual-to-individual interaction, is gaining traction. As a great, strong, and ambitious nation, we are adapting to the changing nature of international relations and adjusting our activities accordingly. From sports to culture and arts, gastrodiplomacy to digital diplomacy, we are striving to be present in all areas of public diplomacy. We are striving to push forward our acquis and diligently voicing the rightful stance of our country."
"Every citizen is a cultural ambassador"
Head of Communications Altun noted that he believes public diplomacy activities should be undertaken with a holistic strategy.
Recalling that the "Citizen Diplomat Project" was launched in June to further boost the representation of the country, eliminate misconceptions about it, strengthen its brand value, and combat disinformation, Head of Communications Altun said:
"Through the Citizen Diplomat Project, every citizen has the potential to contribute to citizen diplomacy as a cultural ambassador. We view all of our citizens, particularly those residing or frequently travelling abroad, as heartfelt ambassadors. For this reason, we will strive to educate our citizens about our country's history, basic foreign policy arguments, industry, tourism, culture and arts, and educational opportunities, as well as to promote awareness that each of our residents is a citizen diplomat."
Sports Diplomacy
Head of Communications Altun stated that sports diplomacy is undoubtedly one of the most significant parts of public diplomacy.
Highlighting the fact that sports have a positive impact on relations between societies, Head of Communications Altun continued his remarks:
Through sporting events, people gather on a global scale while putting aside cultural, social, and political differences. The unifying spirit of sports serves as a facilitating platform for forging amicable ties between nations, fostering international cooperation, and promoting peace. In this sense, the benefits of major international sporting events for host countries are not limited to the economy and tourism industries. At the same time, these activities enable the opportunity for these countries to strengthen their image in the international arena. Specifically, major events such as the Olympics and the World Cup not only serve as sports events but also serve as platforms for citizens from various countries to interact. In the present day, international sports events and athletic feats achieved as part of them have become a source of soft power."
Yusuf Dikeç's shooting pose
Head of Communications Altun reminded that Yusuf Dikeç's pose during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games garnered millions of views on social media platforms.
Head of Communications Altun noted that people searched for Dikeç's iconic pose on online platforms in over 180 countries, as well as for Türkiye, Turkish people, and Turkish cities, adding:
"It was found in the analysed data stack that nearly 60% of the clicked-on content was related to Türkiye. As this concrete example from a few months ago demonstrated, a country's athletes' performance, technical and organisational capacity, sports culture, and background all contribute to its increased visibility in the international media and strengthen its global brand value. A similar example in this regard is the performance of our National Football Team in Euro 2024. While many of our young players are successful at the top clubs in the world and have promising futures ahead of them, their unique athletic identities set them apart. In addition, they also act as citizen diplomats, representing our country with dedication, integrity, and their stances on matters that are of universal concern to all humanity.
Sports events hosted
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that, as part of sports diplomacy, hosting international sports events is a significant focus for them.
Stating that Türkiye hosted 110 tournaments and finals across various branches in 2023 alone, Head of Communications Altun said, "As these events are successfully organized, it is important to remember the significance of the investments directed towards sports by the governments led by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2002."
"We are against unjust and hypocritical practices in sports"
Head of Communications Altun stated that sports have become both a source of national pride and a diplomatic instrument for the country.
Explaining how national athletes not only communicate a message to the world through their sports achievements, but also through the cultural and moral values they represent, Head of Communications Altun said:
"Our athletes, as representatives of Türkiye on the international stage, convey messages of peace, justice, and friendship to the global public. We see that our athletes highlight the injustices of the global order through various means during international competitions. For instance, our brother Necmettin Erbakan Akyüz, who secured the gold medal at the European Wushu Championship, raised the Palestinian flag during the medal ceremony. His action served as a blatant demonstration of his support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters in opposition to Israel's genocide. What a rightful and honourable gesture. However, this noble gesture by our brother Necmettin disturbed the international circles that had been silent on Israeli oppression and usurped his rights. As the Republic of Türkiye, we firmly oppose oppression and oppressors in all areas, as well as unjust and hypocritical practices within the realm of sports. Such actions, carried out under the influence of Israeli lobbying, do not diminish the motivation of our youth and our young athletes; rather, they encourage them even more."
Emphasising that they attach great importance to the representation of Türkiye in the international arena through sporting events, Head of Communications Altun stated that Türkiye is a strong country in the international arena with its economy, culture, and the values it represents.
Stating that the country's greatest strength in this area is its beloved nation, Head of Communications Altun said:
"When it comes to sports, I would like to draw attention, particularly to our youth. It is essential for our youth to exchange their ideas, values, and beliefs with international peers during sporting events and to engage actively in social and cultural activities in the host country. Our successful athletes serve as role models and sources of inspiration for our youth. Our responsibility in this context is to guide the youth in choosing positive role models and to support their ongoing growth. Today, we have our professional athletes with us who have achieved great success in international competitions. They inspire our youth, demonstrating that while reaching their goals can be challenging, it is also achievable and valuable."
Tolerance and Respect
Head of Communications Altun stated that the developments in the region, as well as in the global arena, highlight the necessity for understanding and tolerance among societies.
Expressing confidence that citizen diplomacy can foster mutual tolerance and respect among societies while nurturing empathy among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, the Head of Communications Altun stated: "The bonds established on truth and justice will foster a global order where the powerful are not deemed rightful, but rather, the rightful are seen as powerful, through the means of citizen diplomacy. Solutions can be discovered through solidarity and collaboration among societies to address many international issues that have reached a standstill at both regional and global scales. Furthermore, we believe that citizen diplomacy, shaped by the truth and justice, will serve as a barrier against disinformation and black propaganda efforts aimed at our nation."
"We will keep sharing Türkiye's potential and growing influence"
Head of Communications Altun emphasised their awareness of the black propaganda and disinformation efforts that have targeted the country for years, viewing them as extensions of the prevailing global colonial order.
Highlighting their commitment to using all available resources to stop these attacks and consistently promote the truth moving forward, as they have done in the past, Head of Communications Altun stated the following:
"We remain committed to diligently pursuing the vision articulated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as he emphasises on every platform: 'A fairer world is possible!' Similar to the world of sports, we will keep sharing Türkiye's potential and growing influence across various fields. We recognise that while it is essential to address negative perceptions, this alone does not suffice. At the same time, it is of utmost importance to share the truth about our country and our nation. I believe that the Citizen Diplomat Project addresses a significant void in the work we undertake with this awareness."
Head of Communications Altun expressed gratitude to all who played a role in the event, especially the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, also attended the event.
