As part of the "Sports-Friendly Campus" project, which is conducted by the Higher Education Council (YÖK) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to promote healthy living and sports culture at universities, Kastamonu University has been awarded the title of "Sports-Friendly Campus." 

The universities determined, as a result of comprehensive evaluations under many headings, such as sports infrastructure, participant diversity, opportunities for regular physical activities, the effectiveness of sports clubs, and the integration of sports into campus life, were shared with the public.

On May 14, 2025, during the award ceremony held at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in Rize, the universities that won the title of "Sports-Friendly Campus" were announced. Our university was also included in this important list, being cited as an example for the wide range of sports facilities it offers on campus, which cater to a broad audience, including the people of our province.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, received the award from the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, the President of YÖK, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar; and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation, Bilal Erdoğan, who attended the ceremony.

The president of the Higher Education Council, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, stated that the "Sports-Friendly Campus" titles, awarded for the first time this year, are a result of their holistic approach towards youth. Özvar stated that the majority of university students lead a sedentary lifestyle, emphasizing that higher education institutions have an important responsibility in improving the lifestyle habits of young people. Stating that the "Sports-Friendly Campus" project is not only an awareness initiative but also a corporate transformation strategy encompassing education, health, and social responsibility, Özvar mentioned that applications in this context were meticulously evaluated based on 45 criteria, resulting in 48 campuses from 47 universities being deemed worthy of the title. It was also shared that the title would be valid for three years.

Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak stated that Turkey has hosted major sports organizations and that they want to maintain the momentum in this area. Stating that they attach importance to the active participation of universities in this process, Minister Osman Aşkın Bak emphasized the need to create sports environments within academic life where students are also supported mentally. Expressing their desire for university youth, administrators, and administrative staff to be more involved in sports, Bak added that sports should be an inseparable part of life.

 Bilal Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation, stated in his speech that he believes universities that pass the sports-friendly campus criteria will guide young people in making the right university choice. He said, "God willing, all university campuses in Turkey will become sports-friendly campuses. God willing, we will see our university generation being much more active in sports, the number of licensed athletes at the university level increasing, and in this way, the number of medals our country wins in international competitions and the number of flags we raise increasing," he said.

 In his statement, our Rector expressed his satisfaction with the University achieving this success, saying, "We are happy to see the value our University places on sports culture being recognized." I would like to thank all our academic and administrative staff, the Faculty of Sports Sciences, the Department of Health, Culture, and Sports, our student communities, and everyone who contributed during this process. "We will continue to experience the unifying power of sports not only on our campus but throughout Kastamonu," he stated.

Our Rector also thanked the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Aşkın Bak, and the President of YÖK, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, for their support and encouragement. 
The sports halls, open-air sports fields, and walking tracks within our university, along with the events organized throughout the year with the contributions of student clubs, promote the culture of healthy living both on campus and in Kastamonu.

 The title "Sports-Friendly Campus" is awarded after a comprehensive evaluation process that not only assesses the adequacy of the existing infrastructure but also the integration of sports culture into university life and its sustainable development.

 Our university sees this success as a source of motivation and aims to continue its efforts to make sports accessible and encouraging for individuals of all age groups.