The Strategic Power of Volunteering in Sports Discussed at Istanbul Gedik University

An insightful event was held within the scope of the “Volunteering in Sports” course conducted by Asst. Prof. Hülya Ünlü at the Istanbul Gedik University Faculty of Sport Sciences. The panel featured Şenol Güneş, President of the Youth and Sports Volunteers Association, as a guest speaker and focused on the strategic importance of volunteering in sports organizations.

During the event, it was emphasized that volunteering is not merely an operational support mechanism, but also one of the fundamental components directly influencing the success of large-scale sports organizations. In the session, Türkiye’s sports culture and volunteer management practices were compared with those of international mega sporting events, while professional volunteer management standards were evaluated through both national and international examples.

In his speech, Şenol Güneş highlighted the valuable gains volunteering provides to individuals, including networking opportunities, teamwork, organizational skills, and crisis management experience. He also underlined that the volunteer ecosystem in sports is not limited to individuals with athletic backgrounds, noting that professionals from various sectors contribute significant vision and expertise to the field.

Moderated by Asst. Prof. Hülya Ünlü, the event also addressed the critical role volunteers — often described as the unseen heroes of sports organizations — play in both individual development and social solidarity. The panel concluded with an engaging discussion

environment that allowed students to combine their academic knowledge with practical field perspectives.