The opening speech of the event was delivered by Dr. Lecturer Ahmet SANSI, Head of BAİBU Disabled Student Counseling and Coordination Unit.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sansi made the opening speech. Sansi started his speech by saying, "I would like to thank our Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alişarlı and my Vice Rectors, Dean of our Faculty of Sports Sciences Prof. Dr. Ümid Karlı, Bolu Youth and Sports Directorate and Youth Office managers and employees, as well as our Research Assistant Ahmet Özsoy, who contributed to every step in the organization of this event."

Reminding that 12.29 percent of Turkey's population consists of people with disabilities according to Turkey Disability Survey data, Dr. Assist.Prof. Dr. SANSI reminded that 12.29 percent of Turkey's population consists of people with disabilities and said, "The world disability report also reveals with evidence that disability affects the elderly, women and individuals with low socioeconomic status more, that individuals with disabilities are in worse health and socioeconomic conditions, and that they have great difficulty in accessing main services such as health, education, employment, transportation and informatics. However, accessibility problems related to people with disabilities are a problem all over the world."
 

"We organized this event to introduce disabled sports and raise awareness of disabled people."

Noting that the experts stated that the concept of disability should be addressed from a human rights-based perspective and that studies should be carried out to ensure their full and equal participation in life, Prof. Dr. Lecturer Sansi said. Prof. Dr. Sansi said, "In this context, in order to emphasize the importance and meaning of December 3, World Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was declared by the UN General Assembly in 1992 to promote the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all areas of political, social, economic and cultural life, we have organized this event to introduce disabled sports and to raise awareness of disabled people."
 

Rector Alisarlı: "As BAİBU, we are doing our best to facilitate the lives of our disabled brothers and sisters."

Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alişarlı started his speech by saying "On the occasion of December 3, World Day of Persons with Disabilities, I congratulate all our brothers and sisters and athletes on this meaningful day." Noting that he is aware that disabled people are offended and complaining about being remembered only one day, Rector Alisarlı said, "Our disabled brothers and sisters say, 'You remember us only on December 3, you live the remaining 364 days without knowing about us. Of course, they are right in these reproaches. It is not possible to ignore this voice. But as a university, we try to do whatever we can to make their lives easier.As Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, we are also participating in the Barrier-Free University activity of YÖK. We have Orange and Blue flags and certificates. Our aim is to reach the best point in this regard in a short time. For this, we established the Disabled Student Counseling and Coordination Unit and they are working very hard. For this reason, I would like to thank Ahmet Sansi and all the employees who contributed."
 

Rector Alişarlı: "We ask everyone to ask themselves who is disabled."

Rector Alişarlı emphasized that when he wanted to learn what was being done for disabled individuals in a program he attended abroad about Vocational Schools, he remembered the words of a school principal: "We cannot decide who is disabled." In summary, Rector Alisarlı said, "This word affected me very much. Right now, I can hear you and you can hear me, but I am sure that some of you can hear much better; for example, you can have an ear for music. My disabled brother may have more skill and talent than me at this point. Then the question is: Am I a disabled person compared to him/her? I ask everyone to ask themselves this question. A disabled person gets degrees in sports; I can't. He/she can jump long distances; I can't. Then am I a disabled person compared to them? No one knows what will happen to anyone. Without ignoring this, we need to appreciate our health and strive to live our lives together and in peace.For this reason, such days are meaningful, but these days should always be. Greetings, correspondence and cooperation should always continue."
 

We thank the managers of Selçuk Pharmaceutical Warehouse for their contribution

Rector Alisarlı also thanked Selçuk Ecza Deposu and its esteemed managers for their support in providing our University with the goalposts, goggles, soccer balls and jerseys used in Goalball matches. Noting that the interest in Goalball games is increasing day by day, they advised the dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences to offer elective courses on Goalball and Sitting Veleyball refereeing and coaching. He advised young people from Alisar to focus on goalball.

Shooting Demonstration by National Archers

After the speeches, National Archers Merve Nur Eroglu and Ömer Asik, disabled students with European degrees in archery, performed an arrow shooting demonstration. Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aliarlı accompanied the demonstration and made a successful arrow shot together with the national archers.

Goalball Show by Our Volunteer Students

After the speeches, our student volunteers performed Goalball, a special sport for disabled people, in order to draw attention to the World Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3. Rector Alişarlı, who made the first shot, started the Goalball demonstration, which is a game in which athletes try to score a goal for the opposing team or not to score a goal from the opposing team by following the sound of the bell in the ball.
 

Friendship Won in Sitting Volleyball Tournament

A sitting volleyball competition was held between our team, which was the champion in the matches held on December 1 and 2, 2021 among 13 teams formed by our volunteer students, and the Bolu Youth Center Sports Club team playing in the Super League. The first set of the competition, which was played in 2 sets under the direction of referee Emre Cakir, was won by the BAİBÜ team with a score of 25-22. Bolu Youth Center Sports Club won the second set 25-15. In the competition that ended 1-1, friendship won.
 

Award Ceremony

The trophies and medals of the teams competing in the Sitting Volleyball competition were presented by Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alisarlı and Bolu Youth and Sports Provincial Director Şerafettin Çilkara.

Among the 13 teams formed by our volunteer students, the teams that came 2nd and 3rd in the matches held on December 1 and 2, 2021 were presented their cups and medals by Prof. Dr. Ümid Karlı, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, and Suat Güner, Bolu Provincial Chairman of Ak Parti.

The trophies and medals of the teams competing in Goalball were presented by Necati Isler, Provincial Representative of the Turkish Physically Disabled Sports Federation, and Recep Peker Eryilmaz, Bolu Provincial Deputy Police Chief.

National Archers Merve Nur Eroğlu and Ömer Aşık were presented their medals by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Samettin GUNDUZ

At the end of the events, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alisarlı served a meal to the students who competed in the Sitting Volleyball competition organized specially for December 3, World Disability Day.