The Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award, established to honor the memory and vision of Mustafa V. Koç, who believed in the transformative power of sports, was given to the Women’s Goalball National Team and National Swimmer Kuzey Tunçelli in 2024, marking the 100th anniversary of Turkey’s participation in the Olympics.

Caroline N. Koç, Member of the Board of Directors of Koç Holding and President of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award Jury, stated, “As the jury of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award, since the first year of the award, we have included both Olympic and Paralympic athletes in our Selection Committee and have recognized athletes and teams in both fields over the years. I would like to share a new decision we have made starting in 2024. From this year onward, we have decided to award the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award annually to one team, athlete, or organization in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, and we have made the necessary adjustments to our regulations.”

The “Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award,” established in collaboration with the Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) to honor the life and vision of Mustafa V. Koç, who passionately believed in the unifying and transformative power of sports, and saw it as an inseparable part of personal and societal development, was awarded for the eighth time this year. The award ceremony, with the permanent theme of “Contribution to Olympic Values,” was held on November 6, 2024, at Divan Kuruçeşme with the participation of members of the Koç Family, top executives of Koç Holding and Koç Group, TMOK officials, and invited guests. After evaluating nearly 100 candidates, the recipients of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award for this year were the Women’s Goalball National Team and National Swimmer Kuzey Tunçelli.

The award presented to the Women’s Goalball National Team, which strengthens the place of women in the sports world with their achievements, concretely demonstrates that all obstacles can be overcome. Kuzey Tunçelli’s win of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award at a young age reflects the successes that our hopeful young people will achieve as they continue to dream and work hard. Starting from 2024, the 100th anniversary of Turkey’s first participation in the Olympics, the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award will be presented annually to one athlete, team, or organization in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

Caroline N. Koç: “We are proud to honor the valuable individuals representing our country with this award named after Mustafa.”

In her speech, Caroline N. Koç, Member of the Board of Directors of Koç Holding and President of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award Jury, said, “I would like to remember Mustafa with love and longing on this meaningful night. He was not only a successful businessman but also a leader who left a mark with his generosity and sincerity. He was someone who lived his life according to his values, always made time for his family and friends, and lived every moment of life to the fullest. He continues to inspire us. We are happy to honor the valuable individuals representing our country with this award that bears his name.” She also pointed out that 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Turkey’s participation in the Olympic Games and praised the increasing number of athletes and sports disciplines over the years. Caroline N. Koç sincerely congratulated all athletes competing in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines this year.

Caroline N. Koç: “We have decided to award the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award annually to one team, athlete, or organization in both Paralympic and Olympic disciplines starting from this year.”

Caroline N. Koç continued, “As the Jury of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award, since the first year of the award, we have included both Olympic and Paralympic athletes in our Selection Committee and have recognized athletes and teams in both fields over the years. I would like to share a new decision we made starting from 2024. From this year onward, we have decided to award the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award annually to one team, athlete, or organization in both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, and we have made the necessary adjustments to our regulations.”

Sevda Altunoluk: “I hope that the successes we have achieved inspire future generations, provide hope for girls, and contribute to strengthening the sport of goalball in Turkey.”

The captain of the Turkish Women’s Goalball National Team, Sevda Altunoluk, expressed great honor in receiving the prestigious award, stating: “As a team, we have always aimed for the top, and every step we took on this journey has laid the foundation for the success we have achieved today. The gold medals we won consecutively at the 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo, and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games are a testament to our determination and perseverance. We have maintained this consistency with World and European Championships as well. These achievements are not just the work of us athletes but of everyone who has supported us.” Altunoluk also highlighted that the late Mustafa V. Koç’s contributions to Turkish sports and athletes have been a great source of inspiration for them. “To receive this award, which bears his name, is an indescribable source of pride for our team. There is no obstacle. We have overcome our challenges. We hope that our achievements inspire future generations, give hope to young girls, and contribute to further strengthening goalball in Turkey.”

Kuzey Tunçelli: “My only goal is to raise the Turkish flag high, and make all our people, my club, and everyone here proud.”

In his speech, Kuzey Tunçelli said, “Today, I want to honor the memory of my esteemed elder, Mustafa V. Koç, and remind you of one of his favorite sayings: ‘The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist waits for it to change, and the realist adjusts his sails accordingly.’ We built our dream around this valuable sentence; without complaining about the wind or waiting for it to change, we simply adjusted our sails accordingly. Ten years ago, my story began in a 25-meter pool, and perhaps I didn’t have the resources and equipment, but I had sails I could adjust to the wind. My sails were my passion for swimming, my will to win, and my discipline.” Tunçelli revealed his new goal: “This time, I want to break a world record in the senior category and become the first athlete in Turkish history to win multiple medals in the Olympics. I promise to do everything I can to achieve this. My only goal is to raise the Turkish flag high, and make all our people, my club, and everyone here proud.”

The honorary guests of the award ceremony this year were Hülya Şenyurt, Turkey’s first female Olympic medalist, Judo Coach, Physical Education Teacher, and member of the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award Selection Committee, and Gizem Girişmen, World Champion in Paralympic Archery and 2008 Beijing Paralympic Archery Champion, as well as the 2017 Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award winner. In her speech, Hülya Şenyurt said, “My success in the Olympics not only earned me a medal but also allowed me to achieve a milestone for the women of my country. I see this achievement as a symbol of the empowerment of Turkish women and the unifying power of sports.” Gizem Girişmen remarked, “We learned the importance of perseverance, stepping forward for our dreams, and fighting against challenges from our Republic, founded 101 years ago, from its founding values, and from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who fought for a bright, equal, and free Turkey alongside its people.” Girişmen also shared, “As a female athlete with a disability, the greatest honor for me is not just individual success but challenging prejudices, the roles assigned to us regarding what we can and cannot do, and being part of this great struggle. It is a torch I proudly carry for many girls, women, and athletes with disabilities.”

Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener, President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee (TMOK) and IOC Member, emphasized in his statement that the Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award has become one of the most prestigious sports awards in Turkey. Erdener said, “Mustafa V. Koç, beyond being a successful businessman, was an athlete, administrator, and supporter who believed in the transformative power of sports. This award is an important one that aims to contribute to Olympic values and serves as an inspiration for Turkish sports.” He congratulated Kuzey Tunçelli and the Goalball Women’s National Team, the winners of the 2024 Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award, and expressed confidence that this award would continue contributing to Turkish sports in the future.

The Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award Selection Committee includes prominent figures who are responsible for selecting the award recipients:

• Caner Eler, Sports Commentator and General Editor of Socrates Magazine
• Prof. Dr. Emin Ergen, Sports Medicine Specialist and Sports Scientist
• Hülya Şenyurt, Turkey’s First Female Olympic Medalist, Judo Coach
• Korhan Yamaç, Turkey’s First Medalist in Paralympic Games
• Neşe Gündoğan, Secretary General of the Turkish National Olympic Committee

The Mustafa V. Koç Sports Award Jury consists of distinguished figures, including Koç Holding Board Members Caroline N. Koç and Ömer M. Koç, as well as TMOK President Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener.

Goalball Women’s National Team

The Turkish Goalball Women’s National Team is a source of pride for Turkish sports. They made history by winning the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, followed by victories at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, securing three consecutive Paralympic championships. With World and European Championships also in their collection, the team continues to inspire young athletes.

Kuzey Tunçelli

Kuzey Tunçelli, a rising star in Turkish swimming, has achieved great success at a young age. He made history as the first Turkish swimmer to reach the finals in the Olympics and became the European Champion in the 1500-meter freestyle at the European Swimming Championships. He also set a world junior record. In 2023, he was awarded the title of Europe’s Best Young Athlete, serving as an inspiring figure for the future of Turkish sports.