The fitness sector has recorded rapid growth in Europe over the last few years in parallel to the increasing economic and commercial trend of fitness.
It has been considered to be one of the areas that could create jobs and supported by the EU. It is easy to see the increase of interest in the fitness and health sector, considering the abundancy in newly established modern facilities in the USA and Europe.
Turkey is one of the rare countries in the world which has an article related to sports in her Constitution. Article 59 of the Constitution says, “The State takes measures to develop the physical and mental health of Turkish citizens of all ages and encourages the spread of sports among the masses. The State protects successful athletes.”
In recent years, with investments made in the field of sports, scientific research and the increase in importance placed by the State on sports policy, sports in Turkey has become a well-liked and interesting event both as a performance sport and for the utilization of free time.
Owing to the improvement in the awareness for the need of sports for a healthy life, plenty of private investments have been realized in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, Bursa etc.
Today, almost every modern shopping mall and every residential project (recently completed) in Turkey has a fitness club/center on the premises. This tells us how fast the sector has been growing in Turkey. According to surveys, Istanbul alone has 400 small and medium-size fitness clubs – 25% of which were opened within the last one or two years.
Among these private facilities SPORTS INTERNATIONAL has been the pioneering establishment starting from 1994. The company has a remarkable story of establishment. It goes as follows;
SPORTS INTERNATIONAL FITNESS AND TENNIS CLUBS
An American citizen named Mr. Jim (James Edward) Carter has retired in the fitness industry where he has spent many years with success, as an expert and entrepreneur in the sector in USA.
In the meantime, a Turkish person in search of an investment in the fitness sector in Turkey, finds Jim somehow and offers him to start building and operating fitness and health clubs which are not very popular in Turkey at that time
Jim although not very willing to take another adventure in the sector, is still tempted by his entrepreneur personality. Jim flies over to Istanbul and is extremely impressed on the way from the airport to the city center as he realizes he is exactly at the right spot for such an investment.
However things do not develop as promised by his Turkish partner, in America. Jim, after quite a while realizes that the Turkish guy – his future partner – is a crook and has been cheating him and he is far away from being the right guy to open doors for him in a foreign country.
However, a lot of money has been spent in the meantime for traveling and accomodation (and even advance salaries for his crook partner). Just as our friend is about to fall in despair, a little miracle takes place and he is eventually introduced to TEPE Group, a reputable Turkish group of companies who would like to invest in the health and fitness sector. The good news is – as targeted by Jim from the beginning – the group is ready to provide for all the finance and undertake the organization for concerned investment including construction of sports facilities – clubs.
This seems like a dream as Jim’s part is to set up the crew, and the organization, realize training and marketing of the clubs – through memberships. After a few negotiations with the executives of the group headed by Mr. Ali Kantur (at the time) a very capable businessman and very strong within the group, it is agreed that the American citizen will have 49% share of the company to be established and the company is to be run by him.
That is how Sports International is established in 1994 and has started to build fitness and health facilities in various cities of Turkey, such as Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir etc..
The company has been very succesful during the initial years under the management of Jim Carter. Some time after the managing authority is taken over by Turks, the American partner has left the company and gone back to USA.
The facilities were considered to be one-of-a-kind when they first went into operation and received a lot of praise. Later, several people have commented that the quality of services has gone down and people are not as pleased as before.
Today SPORTS INTERNATIONAL is still providing concerned services and is considered to be among the major fitness centers. The company (and even the country) certainly owes a big thank to this American gentleman – and his dear wife ANITA- for coming up with the idea, starting the operation and delivering all the expertise and know-how as to how to establish and run a sports facility, in a country where people are very much unaware of a concept called “quality in service”.
Certainly however many more facilities have been established in the meantime and they try their best to deliver top quality services as well.
Editor
BUSINESS TURKEY TODAY
