Kayseri on the Path to Becoming the World Sports Capital
After receiving the title of European Sports City, Mayor of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç has taken the city one step further by officially applying for the title of “World Sports Capital” in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. While Kayseri is experiencing a golden era in sports, it is now setting its sights on a global goal. After being awarded the title of European Sports City by ACES Europe in 2024, Mayor Büyükkılıç participated in the “European Capital of Sport 2025” event held in Tallinn and officially submitted Kayseri’s candidacy to become the World Sports Capital.
During the program in Estonia, Mayor Büyükkılıç was accompanied by Fatih Çağan, General Coordinator of Spor A.Ş. Presentations during the event showcased Kayseri’s sports infrastructure, achievements in national and international events, sports investments, and youth-oriented projects.
In Tallinn, Mayor Büyükkılıç met with the ACES Europe delegation and representatives from other countries, delivering a presentation about the city’s initiatives in sports.
“We Are Making Kayseri the City of Sports and Athletes”
In his statement, Büyükkılıç said, “We want to take our European Sports City title one step further and secure our place on the world stage. Our goals are to keep our youth away from harmful habits through sports, raise healthy generations, and revitalize sports tourism to contribute to our city’s economy.”
Emphasizing that they aim to achieve this goal with the leadership of the Kayseri Governorship and Metropolitan Municipality, and with the cooperation of all public institutions, the private sector, and NGOs, Büyükkılıç continued:
“We will make Kayseri not only the capital of sports in Turkey and Europe, but also in the world. We proudly stand as a city that supports sports and athletes. At the ACES meeting held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, we presented our city’s sports facilities and achievements, and officially applied for the title of ‘World Sports Capital.’ Following the European Sports City title, Kayseri was crowned with the Golden Flag and selected as the best sports city in Europe. In 2025 alone, Kayseri won a total of 393 medals. This is a pride for all of us. We are a city that loves sports. Hopefully, we will carry Kayseri to its rightful place on the global stage together.”
Major Developments in Sports Infrastructure
Kayseri has become a model city in sports, with international half marathons, nature walks, cycling tours, sports festivals, and nature camps held throughout the year. Facilities operated by Spor A.Ş. provide support for both amateur and professional athletes, while new sports areas and investments continue to strengthen the city’s infrastructure.
In 2025, Kayseri achieved significant success by winning a total of 393 medals in national and international sports competitions. This success shows that Kayseri’s sports vision is not only recognized locally, but also on a global scale.
This strategic step toward becoming the World Sports Capital aims to contribute not only to the development of sports but also to social integration, awareness of healthy living, and the promotion of the city. The results are expected to be announced in June 2026.
