05.12.2025 17:25
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, emphasized the importance of family in his speech at the Halkbank Gençİz'25 Summit held at the Istanbul Congress Center. Minister Bak stated that parents are the most valuable beings in life and urged young people, "Don't even say 'ugh' to your parents, always show them respect." His enthusiasm while mentioning the famous football player Cristiano Ronaldo's devotion to his mother did not go unnoticed.
Minister Bak spoke at the Halkbank Gençİz'25 Summit held at the Istanbul Congress Center. Sharing that he always dreamed of being a football player on the streets of Kasımpaşa, Minister Bak said, "We started at Kabataş High School by passing the state boarding exam. We received a good education there and developed ourselves. My goal was to serve Turkey as a good engineer. Later, I decided to go abroad."
Stating that he studied in Germany first and then in England, Bak said, "The engineering education in Germany was good, but I preferred to learn English. I went to England. I had no money, so I had to work. I was involved in sports. I managed sports clubs. During this time, I met valuable friends. I went to a friend's place to learn English. It was 1988. I traveled from Istanbul to London by road in 58 hours. We used to get the visa at the door back then. There were 450 people. The customs officer asked me, 'Why did you come here?' I said I came to study and receive education. With this information, I said I would return to Turkey and serve my country."
Minister Osman Aşkın Bak, expressing that he had no money when he went to England for education, said:
"I had deposited 50 pounds for school. At that time, I spoke with the interpreter at customs. He asked me what I knew about England. I said I knew about football. Then the interpreter asked me about Brian Birch. Brian Birch was an English coach who managed Galatasaray from 1971 to 1973. Galatasaray had been champion for three consecutive years during his time. The interpreter said he went to matches when he came to Turkey. I was also following English football. I told the interpreter that I came to learn engineering. Only 40 out of 450 people were able to get a visa. I was one of those who got the visa. This event happened thanks to sports."
"ALWAYS PROUDLY SHARE WHAT YOU DO"
Stating that he worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant during his education in England, Bak said, "I graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. I worked as a waiter and dishwasher. Always share what you do with pride. Share the pieces of your life with pride. Share your experiences with pride. Do not hesitate about anything. That is your life story. While working in the restaurant, I continued to attend a language course for school. I needed to get a certain score on the IELTS to be accepted into school. I always said, 'I will work, I will study, and I will serve my country.'"
Minister Bak mentioned that the person who was supposed to pay for his school at the restaurant he worked at did not keep his word, saying, "He needed someone to work. I left there. I went to another place. I started working in an Italian restaurant. I was making very good Italian dishes. That person kept our passports. I again got my visa by working. That’s why we will continue to work."
Later, Minister Bak noted that he was accepted to the University of Nottingham, saying, "A Turkish engineer came to the restaurant I was working at. He had come to England years ago. That brother of ours was also a graduate of Kabataş High School. I worked with him on construction sites. I worked in the center of London. I wrote on the center of a building I worked on, 'A Turkish engineer worked here. He has a goal. He will serve his country by working.' When I go to London, I stand across from the building we built and drink my coffee."
"NEVER LOSE YOUR EXCITEMENT"
Minister Bak later mentioned that he brought his brother to England, saying, "My brother also started a language course. We went to school and paid the first installment. There was no money for the second installment. There was a scholarship from the University of Nottingham. I wrote to them what I told you. They gave me a scholarship. I paid the second installment of the school with the 2000 pounds from the scholarship. The exams ended. My name did not appear on the graduation list because I could not pay the third installment. We had elders who sent the scholarship. I am lucky. Those who sent that scholarship were friends of our neighborhood elder, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from Kasımpaşa. Later, we paid the third installment as well. Life is like that. Never lose your excitement. Keep fighting. As long as you want to do it."
Stating that he never forgets the people who touched his life, Bak said, "I will never forget my brother at the buffet in Kasımpaşa. During the time I was studying for the university entrance exam, there were exam files. We could not take them. We could only get the returns. That person gave us the returns. We got into Istanbul Technical University. I always say to him, 'If I got into Istanbul Technical University, it was thanks to those files you gave me.' When I became an engineer, I went to him and thanked him. When I became a member of parliament, I went to him and thanked him. When I became a businessman, I went to him and thanked him. The people you meet while climbing the stairs, you will meet the same people while coming down."
"THEY ASK RONALDO."
Minister Bak stated that the most valuable people in people's lives are their mothers and fathers, saying, "Do not even say 'of' to your mother and father. Always respect your mother and father who raised and nurtured you. They ask Cristiano Ronaldo, 'Why is your mother always with you?' His girlfriend also asks, 'Will your mother always come here?' He always says, 'When I went to play football, my mother was working in restaurants for me. Of course, she is my crown jewel.' That’s why keep your mother and father as your crown jewels."
Emphasizing the importance of December 5, International Volunteer Day, Minister Bak said, "I express my gratitude to our youth. During the earthquakes on February 6, the youth of this country were on the field. Do not forget to ignite the fire of goodness within you. Always keep that fire alive. We have always stood by the oppressed. This nation has always stood by the oppressed. Help the oppressed who look to you."
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak conveyed that life is a struggle, concluding his remarks as follows:
"Do not forget to chase your dreams. Love life. When one door opens, another door closes. I was a bit lucky. I grew up in politics alongside our esteemed President. I have been in every level. I served as a member of parliament for three terms. I am serving as a minister for the second term. I use sports diplomacy very well. Our country is a strong country. The investments in the defense industry, tourism, and health sector are evident. We want a strong Turkey that is growing and developing. The dynamo of this country is our youth. As the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we are with you with our 559 youth centers and 374 youth offices in universities. The projects we have implemented are evident. With our GEN-2030 project, we provide artificial intelligence training. So far, we have provided artificial intelligence training to 7750 young people. You are our future. There is also the UNIDES project. We support the projects of our university club youth to realize their dreams.
We welcome everyone to our ministry and youth centers. We are proud of you.