Minister hails ‘epic’ World Championship

Minister hails ‘epic’ World Championship

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Kılıç said there was not a single problem during the World Championships.

Youth and Sports Minister Suat Kılıç hailed the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships, held in Istanbul over the weekend, as an “epic success.”

Istanbul hosted the three-day event March 9-11 at the Ataköy Athletics Arena, which had been the subject of controversy amid concerns that it might not be ready on time. “There were many debates surrounding the Ataköy Arena but there was not a single problem, either inside or outside the hall,” Kılıç told reporters during a press conference. “The event was an epic success.”

“This event showed Turkey there are other sports besides football, and they deserve more interest,” Kılıç added.

Turkey won its first-ever medals at the World Indoor Championships, with Aslı Çakır Alptekin’s bronze and İlham Tanui Özbilen’s silver medal in the 1500 meters.