Kurtuluş SK
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| Full name | Kurtuluş Spor Kulübü | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded |
January 1, 1896 as İraklis Jimnastik Kulübü[1] | |
| Chairman | Konstantin Belalidis[2] | |
| Website | Club home page | |
|
| ||
Kurtuluş SK is a sports club of Kurtuluş, Şişli district, Istanbul, Turkey.[3][4] It is the still existing oldest sports club in Turkey.
History
Kurtuluş SK was founded under the name "İraklis Jimnastik Kulübü"[1] by local Greeks in 1896. It was one of the major Greek sports clubs in Istanbul, while from 1910 to 1922 it was one of the clubs that undertook the organization of the Pan-Constantinopolitan games (Games organized among the Greek clubs of the city).[5]
In 1906 two athletes of the club, the brothers Georgios and Nikolaos Alimbrandis won gold medals in the Intercalated Olympic Games in Athens, in horizontal bar and rope climbing respectively.[5]
During the 1930s, the club intensified the efforts in the field of sports with the foundation of basketball, volleyball, cycling, athletics and other sports departments. Competent athletes from these departments were distinguished in local and international sports events.[5] The club played Turkish Basketball League between 1966 and 1968.
Notable athletes
- Minas Gekos, basketball player
See also
- Beyoğluspor, another still existing sports club in Istanbul founded by local Greeks.
- List of Turkish sports clubs by foundation dates
References
- 1 2 http://www.tatavla.org/kurtulus-spor-kulubu-54.html
- ↑ "Kurtuluş Spor Kulübü". Aya Tanas Aya Dimitri Aya Lefter Rum Ortodoks Kilisesi ve Mektebi Vakfi. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
- ↑ Kurtuluş SPOR KULÜBÜ (Turkish)
- ↑ Kurtuluş Spor Kulübü Official Website (Turkish)
- 1 2 3 Choumerianos, Manolis. "Sports and sports clubs of the Greek Orthodox in Constantinople". Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Κωνσταντινούπολη. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- Tatavla Heraklis Jimnastik Kulübü. Türk Futbol Tarihi.vol 1. page(23). (June 1992) Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yayınları.