Türkiye sets sights on 2028 Olympics with nationwide skateboarding push

Türkiye's skateboarding and skating federation has expanded from just a few clubs to almost 200 in two years.

The president plans to build professional facilities in every province by 2028 and aims to qualify for the Olympics in Los Angeles.

President Fahrettin Yildiz told Anadolu Agency (AA) that when the current leadership started, only nine clubs from four cities could vote in federation elections.

Now, there are 189 active clubs: 95 for skating and 94 for skateboarding, with over 4,000 licensed athletes, of whom about 2,000 are active.

Türkiye Skateboarding Federation President Fahrettin Yıldız poses during an interview about expanding professional skateboarding and roller skating across Türkiye. (AA Photo)

Federation's national expansion push

Right now, 44 provinces have the facilities needed for professional skateboarding and skating. Yildiz said the federation wants to bring this infrastructure to every province in the next three years.

'We want to make this sport available in all 81 provinces,' Yildiz said. 'We have set up representatives in every city and are working to make sure children can skate and skateboard safely everywhere.'

Both skateboarding and skating were included in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and now TKF is aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The world championship in Rome this June is an important qualifying event with Olympic spots available.

Roller skating athletes perform during the launch event of the Flying Skateboard Project organized by the Türkiye Skateboarding Federation at Atatürk Sports Hall in Kayseri, May 7, 2026. (AA Photo)

Olympic hopefuls train abroad

Yildiz said that brothers Ege and Efe Tok are representing Türkiye in the park discipline and are training in Rome before the championship. Berke Dikiscioglu, who competes in street skateboarding, is getting ready in Spain.

Türkiye will also take part in both skateboarding and skating at the 2027 European Youth Games, which will be held in Istanbul.

Students stand with skateboards during the launch event of the Flying Skateboard Project organized by the Türkiye Skateboarding Federation at Atatürk Sports Hall in Kayseri, where 300 students were gifted skateboards, May 7, 2026. (AA Photo)

Kayseri leads in licensed athletes

Kayseri is the most active city in Türkiye for the federation. It has the highest number of licensed athletes, with 850 active skateboarders and skaters, which is almost half of the country's total.

One of its clubs won the national Clubs Skating Championship, and there are 16 skateboarding clubs in the city.

Yildiz said that Kayseri, which has been named the 2029 World Sports Capital, would be a good host for a future world championship, and the federation plans to work toward that goal.

'There has been a lot of interest in skateboarding and skating in recent years,' Yildiz said. 'We have athletes with great potential. Families should support these sports.'

May 10, 2026 01:22 PM GMT+03:00