SHARED SPORTS FACILITIES

Atatürk University strongly prioritizes community engagement and well-being by making its sports infrastructure and recreational facilities available not only to students and staff, but also to the local community, schools, and sports organizations in Erzurum and the wider Eastern Anatolia region. This aligns with the university’s mission to promote healthy lifestyles, youth development, and social integration in line with SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-Being).

Comprehensive Sports Infrastructure

• Indoor Sports Complex: The university operates large indoor gyms that host basketball, volleyball, handball, and futsal activities. These facilities are regularly opened for use by local sports clubs, school competitions, and regional tournaments.

• Swimming Pool & Aquatic Center: Atatürk University’s semi-Olympic swimming pool provides training opportunities for students, staff, and the public, including youth groups and schoolchildren who benefit from structured swimming lessons and water safety training.

• Football & Athletics Stadium: The outdoor football pitch and athletics track are utilized by local amateur clubs and schools for competitions, physical education classes, and athletics events.

• Tennis Courts & Fitness Rooms: Facilities for tennis, martial arts, table tennis, and modern fitness equipment are accessible to both the university community and local residents through structured schedules.

• Campus inventory. Atatürk University offers a broad mix of indoor and outdoor venues: 2 natural-turf football fields, 4 astroturf minipitches, 5 basketball courts, 5 tennis courts, 1 Olympic athletics track, 1 volleyball hall, 1 handball hall, 1 martial arts hall, 1 folk-dance hall, 1 wrestling hall, 1 gymnastics hall, 2 multi-purpose sports halls, and a semi-Olympic swimming pool. This network supports student sport, community events, and school access. Atatürk Üniversitesi

  ATA Sports Center (on campus). The university-run complex bundles a semi-Olympic pool, fitness gym, SPA (Turkish bath, sauna, steam), and an Athlete Performance Testing & Rehabilitation Unit. Address: Dadaşkent Yolu üzeri, Buz Hokey Salonu yanı, Yakutiye/Erzurum. Phone: 0442 237 07 05; e-mail: spormerkezi@atauni.edu.tr. Atatürk Üniversitesi Spor Merkezi

• Public/community access & user categories. Besides AU students and staff, access extends to alumni/retirees, Erzurum Technical University staff & students, students from other universities, and guests (with an AU staff reference). This policy enables community use alongside the academic population; users register and book time slots as needed. Atatürk Üniversitesi Spor Merkezi

  Standard operating window & gender-balanced schedule. The center operates daily in a broad 10:00–22:00 window (see program). To ensure privacy and inclusion, women use the facilities Tue–Thu–Sat; men Wed–Fri–Sun. Core hours by unit:

  • Fitness Gym: 10:00–21:30

  • Turkish Bath (Hamam): 10:00–21:45

  • Sauna & Steam: 10:00–21:30

  • Swimming Pool: structured 90-minute sessions throughout the day (see below). Atatürk Üniversitesi Spor Merkezi

  Swimming pool sessions (90 min each). Typical daytime blocks include 10:00–11:30, 12:00–13:30, 14:00–15:30, 16:00–17:30, 18:00–19:30, 20:00–21:30, assigned to women’s days (Tue/Thu/Sat) and men’s days (Wed/Fri/Sun). Check the weekly grid for the exact day/slot mix. Atatürk Üniversitesi Spor Merkezi

• Bowling & social recreation (open to the public). The campus Bowling Hall & Café supports family-friendly recreation and student–community mixing, with 08:00–22:30 opening hours. Atatürk Üniversitesi

Partnerships with Local Schools and Community Groups

• Local School Access: Erzurum’s primary and secondary schools are granted access to sports halls and fields for physical education classes and interschool competitions. This allows young students to practice sports in modern, safe facilities.

• Youth Sports Organizations: The university collaborates with the Erzurum Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, as well as local municipalities, to organize youth tournaments, fitness workshops, and community sports events.

• National & Regional Events: Atatürk University regularly hosts regional competitions, university league tournaments, and national-level sports meetings, positioning its facilities as a hub for sporting excellence.

Health, Well-Being & Social Impact

• Encouraging Active Lifestyles: By sharing its facilities, Atatürk University enables residents—particularly children, youth, and the elderly—to maintain active and healthy lifestyles.

• Accessibility for All: Facilities are adapted to support people with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity in line with modern sports accessibility standards.

• Community Integration: Sports and recreation activities strengthen ties between the university and the Erzurum community, reinforcing social cohesion and trust.

Volunteering and Training

• Student Involvement: Students from the Faculty of Sports Sciences play an active role by providing coaching, refereeing, and sports education workshops to local youth.

• Health Promotion: University sports facilities are also used for seminars on physical activity, nutrition, and active aging, organized jointly by faculties and community groups.