25 of February, ANKARA / ISTANBUL, Republic of Türkiye — An important working meeting was held to discuss the inclusion of Sambo in the program of the upcoming 2027 European Games. The high-level talks confirmed the mutual interest of both parties in expanding the continental forum’s sports program.
Participating in the discussion were:
• Professor Veli Ozan ÇAKIR, Director of the 2027 European Games Organizing Committee and Director General of Sports of the Republic of Türkiye;
• Sergey Eliseev, President of the European Sambo Federation and First Vice President of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS);
• Alexander Korsik, CEO — FIAS Acting Secretary General;
• Koritskiy Sergey, Minister-counsellor Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Türkiye;
• Kadir Yusufoğlu, General coordinator of the sport of Sambo in the Republic of Türkiye.
The main topic of the dialogue was the strategic importance of sambo as a dynamically developing sport and the prospects for its integration into the program of the European Games, which will be held in Turkey in 2027.
Meeting participants noted the constructive nature of the conversation and the mutual understanding reached. Following the discussion, it was stated that the negotiations had been positive, laying a solid foundation for further work on including sambo as an official discipline at the Games. The parties expressed confidence that sambo’s inclusion in the competition program will significantly enhance the tournament’s appeal and international prestige.
The approval process is actively ongoing: a new round of additional negotiations is planned for the coming days to thoroughly explore technical and organizational aspects.
It is worth noting that the inclusion of sambo in the European Games program is a priority for the international community, contributing to the further recognition of this sport and its popularization on the global stage.