Examination of sports activities in Bitlis from past to present

Sports play an important role in ensuring peace, tranquility, unity and cultural fusion among people from the first ages to the present day. However, sport is a tool that reflects the unique joy, sorrow, language, beliefs, traditions, and cultural codes of each society or nation in the best way. This mission of sports has made it an indispensable element of societies by universalizing it. The sports activities of Bitlis, which has hosted many civilizations in the historical process and is an ancient city, are based on ancient times. Sports branches with high popularity such as athletics, wrestling, skiing, football and mountaineering continue to exist actively in the region today. On the other hand, a study that includes many topics such as the sports organization structure of the province of Bitlis, the sports branches operating in the province and their achievements in these branches, sports culture, sports clubs operating in the province and existing sports facilities, school sports and the contribution of Bitlis Eren University to the sports of the province. not found. Therefore, it is aimed to examine the sports activities in Bitlis from past to present. In addition to this, our main aim is to bring a new sports vision to Bitlis, to draw a roadmap for investments that can be made in Bitlis in terms of existing sports facilities and sportive achievements, to determine strategies and make plans for progress in sports branches that are suitable for the geographical conditions of the province in the future and have high potential for success. . Research data were obtained by scanning and documentation method, one of the qualitative study methods. The development and historical process of the sports organization of the province of Bitlis, the sports organization structure of the province, the achievements in sports branches, the activities and achievements of school sports in the province, the sports facilities in the province and the district, the total number of licensed athletes by years, the number of trainers working in our province and their distribution to branches, field and facilities, first clubs, clubs and associations, sports activities of Bitlis Eren University were investigated in detail. In this context, interviews were held with the athletes, trainers and managers who have been involved in sports for many years, as well as with the managers of public institutions and organizations that contribute to the sports of the province. In addition, provincial annuals, books, magazines and brochures written about Bitlis were used. When the sports activities of the province are examined; It is fixed with historical sources that it has a deep-rooted history dating back to the 1500s. The first official sports activities in the province started with hunting, shooting and javelin activities in the 1902s, tennis and golf sports continued in the American College established in the Kurubulak district of Bitlis between 1902-1912. With the establishment of the first sports clubs in 1926, sports in Bitlis were formed in a more disciplined way. After the 1970s, when institutionalization began, sports facilities were built, and serious increases were observed in the number of trainers and athletes; Especially with the strengthening of the administrative staff of the sports organization, many successes have been achieved on behalf of Bitlis in international championships, especially in skiing, athletics, kickboxing, muaythai and taekwondo, with the efforts of sports clubs, managers, trainers and athletes.