The 9th International Mustafa Berkay Akbaş Street Basketball Tournament, organized in memory of 19-year-old medical faculty student Mustafa Berkay Akbaş, who lost his life in the terrorist attack on December 10, 2016 in Istanbul, has started.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held in Yeni Mahalle Barış Manço Park, Governor Mustafa Özarslan said that it was meaningful to organize the organization with wide participation.

Underlining that it is an important organization to keep Mustafa Berkay's name alive, Özarslan said, "It is truly an admirable organization that this tournament has reached an international dimension today, under the leadership of our Municipality, with the contributions of our Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, Turkish Basketball Federation Sinop Provincial Representation and our people. This joint success is very valuable in terms of protecting our martyr and keeping his name alive. At the same time, it is a sublime feeling that shows that we stand by our martyr's family, relatives and loved ones." "expression." he said.

Sinop Mayor Metin Gürbüz stated that the tournament is not just a sports organization and said, "This tournament, which keeps the name of our son Berkay Akbaş alive, who lives in our hearts and whom we are determined to keep alive with the tournament and other events, is not just a sports competition, but a projection of brotherhood, togetherness, solidarity and sportsmanship." he said.

Salim Akbaş, President of the Sinop Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also the father of Mustafa Berkay Akbaş, stated that the tournament aims to keep his son's name alive and said, "We, as his family, together with his friends and loved ones, wanted Berkay's name to be remembered not with pain, but with hope, sports, friendship and the success of young people. This tournament is a product of this understanding. Sports is not just a race. Sports teaches discipline, effort, solidarity, respect and success together." he said.

A total of 76 teams and 304 athletes, 42 women and 34 men, will compete in the three-day tournament.