Sports Talent Screening for the Next Champions of Turkish Sport

Yasemin Adar Yiğit, one of the legendary athletes of Turkish sport, ended her active wrestling career in 2025 and now serves as Deputy Director General of Sports Services. The Türkiye Sports Talent Screening and Sports Guidance Program under her responsibility is implemented in 81 provinces. As part of the program, screening tests are given to children starting from the third grade of primary school.

Adar said that between 2018 and 2026, they had screened approximately 6 million children. The children go through certain stages, and preparatory activity cards are created for them. They are then directed toward specific branches under the supervision of teachers and coaches. The aim is to determine children's aptitude for sport, popularize sport, and raise the Olympic athletes of the future.

Noting that raising Olympic athletes requires a long process, Adar said the program started in 2018 and that an Olympic athlete cannot be developed in six years. Pointing out that the age groups are very young, Adar said that in 10 years the children would go to the Olympics with medal potential.

Adar emphasized that when choosing a branch, scientific assessments and children's wishes should be taken into account alongside families' expectations. Drawing attention to the reliability of the tests and to the scientific work carried out using artificial intelligence, Adar said that her own child did not have to become a wrestler either. Stating that no person would want to be forced into a branch they do not like, she noted that this could lead to many problems.

The program also includes steps to introduce children with disabilities to sport. It was reported that the goal is to identify the talents of children with disabilities and direct them toward Paralympic branches.