Special Olympics basketball players experience great basketball and warm hospitality in Turkey

19 June 2008

Photo gallery of the Special Olympics European Basketball Tournament, hosted by Special Olympics Turkey, held in Marmaris, Turkey. The Special Olympics European Basketball Tournament, hosted by Special Olympics Turkey, was held in Marmaris, Turkey from 26-31 May 2008. One hundred and twenty six Special Olympics players from 16 countries participated in an unforgettable experience in the port city located on the Aegean Sea. This was the fourth regional basketball tournament to be held in 10 years. An estimated 2,000 spectators lined the streets of Marmaris as the tournament started with a parade downtown on 27 May. The mayor, local authorities and Special Olympics Turkey board members joined the parade. Later in the evening, a spectacular Opening Ceremony, with 5,000 spectators, was staged in the city's ancient amphitheater. Spectators were estatic as they listened to popular Turkish singer Kenan Dogulu perform for almost two hours. Competitions took place from 28-30 May at the Admiral Orhan Aydin Sports complex. Games were nail-biting with last-minute scores bringing out the very best in the players and to the wild applause of spectators. Yet win or lose, the Special Olympics competitors left the court as brothers, shaking hands, patting backs and exchanging jerseys. “What was the best here? Everything, but the mostly people!” declared Vadekis Salilius who played on the Lithuanian team against Special Olympics Turkey and lost against the host team. Special Olympics players were thrilled to participate in the tournament. Husein Yamak, 19, is a Special Olympics Turkey basketball player from Kocaevi. He has has been playing basketball for six years years. His favourite player is NBA star Kobe Bryant. Yamak was one of the most popular players at the tournament, and was very generous in signing autographs for the public after each game. “I love when our team wins, but what I enjoyed most was just playing with the other teams,” he said. Tanju Incidemir from Zonguldak is 20 years old and has been playing basketball for eight years. With 15 points he had the best score of the game which Special Olympics Turkey won against Special Olympics Lithuania. “I may be the best player on our team, but my friend Husein is more popular with our supporters,” Incidemir said with a smile. Milosh Dencic from Pirot is 19 years old, and the captain of Special Olympics Serbia team. When he joined Special Olympics four years ago, Dencic could barely run. He has made tremendous progress as an athlete, and this was recognized when the city of Pirot awarded him as their Sportsman of the Year in 2007. Milosh Kostic is also from Pirot. He went to a regular school, but his classmates did not want to socialize with him. When he joined Special Olympics and started playing basketball, he became much more popular, and started making a lot of friends. “I never miss training, because I know that a serious athlete has to train constantly to improve his skills and become a better player.” Athinodoros Solomou, 25, who played on the Special Olympics Cyprus team, has been playing basketball for 10 years, scored two points in the game against Special Olympics Spain. “I like it very much here. I made a lot of friends, but my favorite thing is is the swimming pool in the hotel,” he said. Solomou is also a runner, and has five brothers. His favourite basketball team is Panatinaicos. Like many of the Special Olympics players, this was his first time in Turkey and, like the others, left with fantastic memories of great games, outstanding facilities and hospitality that was as warm and inviting as the Aegean.