Established in line with the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı and presented since 1994 to athletes who have won gold medals at the Olympic Games, the Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards have once again found their recipients. The awards were presented in a special ceremony to the Paralympic athletes who made the nation proud at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
This year’s recipients included:
• Umut Ünlü, who won two gold medals in para swimming,
• İbrahim Bölükbaşı, who brought Türkiye its first gold medal in para judo,
• Mahmut Bozteke, Türkiye’s first gold medalist in para taekwondo,
• Öznur Cüre Girdi, gold medalist in para archery,
• and the Turkish Women’s National Goalball Team, who made history with three consecutive gold medals at the Rio, Tokyo, and Paris Paralympic Games.
True to Sakıp Sabancı’s belief in celebrating achievement and inspiring determination, the Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards continue to honor not only sporting success but also the resilience and stories of athletes who have “changed the game” in sports. Organized by the Sabancı Foundation in collaboration with the Turkish National Paralympic Committee, this year’s ceremony awarded a total of 240 gold Cumhuriyet coins to the athletes who brought home gold medals from Paris 2024.
Athletes received their awards from Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, General Manager of the Sabancı Foundation, and Dr. Murat Aksu, President of the Turkish National Paralympic Committee.
Held at The Seed, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, on May 13, 2025, the ceremony featured an inspiring performance by national para dancer Barış Bayraktar, and a short film portraying the athletes’ powerful journeys to success left the audience deeply moved.
Nevgül Bilsel Safkan: “The Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards symbolize not only medals, but also equal opportunity, inclusion, and the realization of potential.”
In her remarks at the ceremony, Sabancı Foundation General Manager Nevgül Bilsel Safkan stated:
“In accordance with the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, the Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards have been presented since 1994 to recognize not just achievements, but the dreams, unwavering determination, and individuals who ‘change the game’ in sports. Because success is not just an outcome—it is often the story of those who persevere and break through all obstacles.
That’s why this award is not only a gesture of recognition—it is a call to inspire, to transform, and to promote equality.”
Referring to a 2023 UNESCO report, she continued:
“Only 1% of people with disabilities around the world participate in sports regularly. Yet those who are introduced to sports report up to a 40% increase in life satisfaction, with significant improvements in social participation and employment rates. These findings once again highlight why this call for equality is vital.
That’s why the Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards symbolize not only medals, but also equal opportunity, participation, and the unlocking of potential.”
Dr. Murat Aksu: “Paris 2024 was not only a sporting milestone, but a mental breakthrough.”
President of the Turkish National Paralympic Committee, Dr. Murat Aksu, stated:
“In 2024, we went to Paris with a record number of athletes—94 across 15 disciplines, a first in our history. We returned with 28 medals: 6 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze. This is not just a scoreboard; it is the result of early-morning training, unseen effort, unwavering belief, and solidarity.
These medals are no coincidence—they represent a profound transformation. The Sakıp Sabancı Sports Awards are a valuable platform that elevates not just success, but also inspiration, visibility, and social awareness. This award recognizes not only those who win medals, but those who make change possible. The Paralympic Movement in Türkiye is growing, gaining strength, and becoming more visible. And on the road to Los Angeles 2028, we are more determined than ever at every step.”
Öznur Cüre Girdi: “The greatest source of strength in my life has been the healing power of sport.”
Speaking at the ceremony, National Para Archer Öznur Cüre Girdi said:
“If there’s anything more important than succeeding as an athlete, it’s having people around you to share the joy of that success. Success becomes more meaningful when it’s shared.
Life is a playing field for all of us—and we define the rules. Like many athletes, my life has been full of struggles, and it still is. The greatest source of strength in my life has been the healing power of sport.
I became a World and European Champion, and then a Paralympic gold medalist at the Paris Games. I’m proud to say I also set new World and Paralympic records at that competition. I’ve achieved many of my dreams—and I have many more to come. The list is long.”
