Asst.Prof. Sebahattin Devecioglu Fırat University School of Physical Education and Sports

1. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK International Conference Organized by: The Light Millennium and College of Arts and Letters at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, April 19 -20, 20113 The Birth of the Celebration of Youth and Sports and the U.N.’s Agenda for Youth and the Encouragement of Sports Asst.Prof. Sebahattin Devecioglu Fırat University School of Physical Education and Sports Elazığ, Turkey -2013

2. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Purpose The purpose of this study is to emphasize meaning and importance of 19 May Youth and Sports Day presented by Ataturk to youth, to determine its sports practices from past to present, and to assess the day within the framework of Millennium Development Goals of United Nations

3. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Similar to goals and policies set by United Nations for today, radical revolutions of Ataturk, the founder of Republic of Turkey, to make an empire, which had collapsed and been imbedded in history in terms of social, economic and cultural aspects, reach up to the level ofmodern civilizations are seen exemplary by many countries in the world.

4. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Among the most important approaches and revolutions of Ataturkthat are accepted all over the world, the importance he bestowed upon the youth bears remarkable features.

5. Celebration of May 19 the Commemoration of Ataturk, Youth and Sports Day 19 May 1919, which is the first step of the great revolution within the War of Independence, was accepted as the “Youth and Sports Day”on 19 May 1938. Being among the important national holidays of the Turkish nation, “May 19 the Commemoration of Ataturk Youth and Sports Day”has been settled in the Turkish culture and widely esteemed by the society in a commonly official and unofficial way. History of nations involves blurry, rough and dark periods,

6. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK The founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk anticipated that the only solution against those who intended to cause the nation to go back with their old-fashioned opinions as from the beginning of the National Struggle was in youth and young opinions and foresaw that generations who would be raised with a modern mentality would develop his work even further and keep it alive for eternity by protecting it from all kinds of dangers in the future.

7. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Thus, Ataturk commended the republic which he called “my greatest work”to the youth and presented the date May 19, when he set off for Samsun to start the War of Independence, to the Turkish youth as the “Youth and Sports Day”

8. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Placing a great value on this day, Ataturk started his Great Speech on May 19 and when he was asked about his birthday, he answered “why not May 19”.

9. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK Having been entrusted with the Republic of Turkey by Ataturk, the youth will progress on the way of science and modernity referred by him in full unity, glorify our nation, arrange our future, and make it enlightened and content.

10. PIONEER OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ATATURK In his statement “Youth; who have taken on the task of realizing my future goals! I am very pleased and happy since I will leave this country to a youth like you, which understands me”

11. Youth and Sports in Turkey Turkey started a powerful modernization process in1923following the foundation of the Republic under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. A great importance was placed on the youth, as well as their education and cultural development in the beginning of this process

12. Youth and Sports in Turkey 50.5% of the Turkish population are younger than 30. Approximately 20 million of our populationconsisted of 14-29 year-old young population by the end of 2011. In case that the rate of increase continues as it is, 70 % of Turkish population will be in the working age in 2023.

13. Youth and Sports in Turkey Turkey is the country with the highest young population-to-total population ratio in Europe. This demographic structure could be turned into an advantage through effective and qualified politics aimed at youth

14. Youth and Sports in Turkey 1982 Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Youth, sports and sportsmen were assured in the 58th and 59th articles of the Constitution. The Ministry of Youth and Sports sustains its activities countrywide by grounding especially on the provision, which is included in the 59th article of our Constitution and asserts, “The government takes precautions to develop the physical and mental health of Turkish citizens from all ages, encourages the deployment of sports among masses and protects the successful sportsmen”

15. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Three slogans “Peace-Participation-Development” were put into practice in the World Youth Year of 1985 for ten years and anticipated as a target for member countries of United Nations until 1995 and it was required to increase the number and variety of sports organizations that would effectuate these three slogans ideally.

16. During the press conference that was organized in the General Center of UN in New York, the Secretary-General of the UN Kofi Annan emphasized the importance of sports in reaching the peace and made an explanation as follows, ''Sports is a universal language and has the power of uniting people no matter what their origins, histories, religious beliefs, and economic conditions are'' and expressed that the United Nations declared the year 2005 as the '' International Year of Sport and Physical Education''.

17. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS According to the youth report titled Turkey 2008 within Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme; a definite youth policy and institutions, which would support the youth, are required in Turkey. This need for a definite youth policy is valid not only for Turkey, but also for North and South American and European countries

18. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS We can say : that goals and policies of Ataturk related to youth and sports, his activities, organizations and studies were influencing factor for United Nations Millennium Development Goals, accepted and taken to national development program by 195 countries (193 countries and two observers; Palestine and Vatican), especially should it be compared to `less developed and developing countries`.

19. CONCLUSION As a consequence, the title of “the Advocacy of Children’s Right to Play, Protection of Youth and Extension of Sports”should be included in the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations in order to enable and support Children/Young People and consequently the adults of the near future to become healthy and happy by means of sports and perpetuate their such aspects. The forthcoming studies to be conducted in this context should be supported and new projects should be developed.

20. Thank you……