EMU RECTOR PROF. DR. AYKUT HOCANIN PARTICIPATES IN “TRADITIONAL SPORTS AND GAMES” CONFERENCE AS HONORARY GUEST

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector Prof. Dr. Aykut Hocanın participated in a conference titled “The Impacts of Traditional Sports and Games on Global Peace and Development During and After COVID-19", as an honorary guest. The conference which attracted the participation of rectors, experts and representatives from all over the world on the occasion of the International Day of Sport, Development and Peace was held online at 18:00 on Sunday, 4 April 2021.

In his speech at the opening of the conference, Prof. Dr. Hocanın said that he believes the organization held is important for everyone, and that sports play an important role in uniting individuals, communities and nations in the world, that it is a common ground for everyone and a very powerful tool to change the world.

Prof. Dr. Hocanın put forth that the importance paid and support provided by the Eastern Mediterranean University towards social life and sports has been increasing consistently for more than twenty five years. Prof. Dr. Hocanın added that being aware of the importance of sports in human life and acting in line with this awareness, our university plays an active role in the development of and participation in traditional and local sports games both throughout the world and within the geography we live in.

Prof. Dr. Hocanın added that our University's sports teams have achieved significant success through their participation in different branches of the international sports organisations. Prof. Dr. Hocanın also stated that with a strong and large army of sports players, consisting of more than 400 athletes in 22 different branches, Eastern Mediterranean University provides the necessary importance and support to sports and sports players.

EMU Research Assistant Maydon Delivered a Presentation 

EMU Tourism Faculty PhD. student and Research Assistant Denitsa Hirstoforova Maydon also spoke at the conference. Maydon, together with EMU Tourism Faculty academic staff member Asst. Prof. Dr. İlkay Yorgancı, made a 15-minute presentation about the article they prepared with Maloney on the importance of applying traditional sports and games in schools during the COVID-19 process.

In the conference organized by the Kyrgyzstan Manas University Local Sports and Games Research and Application Center and hosted by Bowie University in the USA, the importance of not losing traditional games, the contribution of traditional games to the development of children and the inability of children to perform traditional games or sports during the pandemic process and how they have been affected psychologically were points of discussion.

The conference also included sustainable development goals such as “Good Health" and “Quality Education for All", which are among the 2030 goals of the United Nations. The conference hosted speakers and panelists from the TRNC, Turkey, USA, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Spain, Malaysia, the Russian Federation and Botswana.