Kalyon İnşaat Becomes Main Sponsor of Türkiye Milli Paralimpik Komitesi

A Journey from the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games to Los Angeles 2028

Speaking at the signing ceremony about the importance of the main sponsorship of Türkiye Milli Paralimpik Komitesi, Kalyon İnşaat Chairman Murathan Kalyoncu said: “We are deeply honored and proud to continue, as Kalyon İnşaat, the main sponsorship of Türkiye Milli Paralimpik Komitesi that we began with Kalyon Enerji and Kalyon PV at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games. We are embarking on a meaningful, long term journey with our Paralympic athletes that will include the Los Angeles Paralympic Games in 2028. We see this partnership as a shared commitment to common values and a journey together that extends beyond a sponsorship agreement. Our Paralympic athletes inspire society through their sporting achievements and the perseverance, determination, faith and effort they bring to life. Their struggle reminds us time and again that true success knows no limits.”

“We Will Continue to Go Beyond Limits with Our Paralympic Athletes”

At Kalyon İnşaat, there is a phrase we have often emphasized when describing the projects we have delivered in Türkiye and around the world: “We are going beyond our limits.”

Success has never meant simply building large structures for us. Our key success factors have been contributing to economic development wherever we operate, supporting social progress and firmly embracing sustainability and environmental responsibility. Today, the idea of “going beyond limits” takes on a very different and much stronger meaning for us. We are now turning this idea into a tangible partnership with our Paralympic athletes, who overcome limits every day through their determination, discipline and inspiring efforts.”

Türkiye Milli Paralimpik Komitesi President Dr. Murat Aksu, Attorney at Law, emphasized that the main sponsorship agreement with the Kalyon family represents a long term journey founded on shared values, as well as a partnership. Noting a strong friendship with the Kalyon family stretching back almost half a century, Aksu highlighted their pioneering role over the years in social responsibility, philanthropy and support for sport.

Aksu noted that the Kalyon family stands out for its support of sports clubs, athletes and the Paralympic movement, alongside its large scale projects. He said family members had held active roles in the Paralympic Committee and TESYEV at different times and had been involved on the ground in every area of sport and social good. In this respect, he said, the family closely embodies the fundamental values of the Paralympic movement.

Emphasizing that inspiration is the greatest transformative force in Paralympic sport, Aksu said the two champion athletes attending the ceremony were powerful representatives of that inspiration, while each of the hundreds of Paralympic athletes across Türkiye held great individual value. He said the projects to be undertaken with Kalyon İnşaat would increase Paralympic awareness, social transformation and inspiration alongside sporting achievement, and that this partnership would pave the way for even stronger initiatives for many years to come.

Aksu concluded by thanking the Kalyon family for their valuable support of the Paralympic movement.

Döndü Yeşilyurt, who represents Türkiye in Para judo, holds two world and two European championship titles, including individual and team titles, and is the only female athlete to become world champion in two different sports. She expressed her pleasure at being brought together with Kalyon İnşaat and Türkiye Milli Paralimpik Komitesi, saying the gathering had special significance for her. Having grown up in difficult circumstances as the daughter of a laborer who worked in construction in different cities, Yeşilyurt said she felt a deep connection to the efforts of the thousands of fathers working hard in construction for their children.

Yeşilyurt said she began her sporting career in weightlifting, where she won world championship titles, before moving to judo and continuing her career in that discipline. The national athlete said her achievements in weightlifting and judo had repeatedly given her the pride of hearing Türkiye's national anthem played around the world, and that her commitment and passion for judo continued to drive her forward every day.

Yeşilyurt said they had entered an intensive preparation period for Los Angeles 2028 following the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with extended training camps in Japan and Slovenia forming an important part of that journey. She emphasized that representing Türkiye internationally through character and conduct, as well as medals, was a major responsibility for her.

Recalling that she met the Kalyon family during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Yeşilyurt said their support had been a tremendous source of both financial and moral strength. She noted the decisive role of such support in athletes' performance and success, and thanked everyone involved.

Yeşilyurt said the Para Judo National Team's first world championship title and subsequent European runner up finish were the result of this integrated approach. Expressing pride in being part of this strong partnership on the journey to Los Angeles 2028, she added that her goal was to win Paralympic gold for Türkiye.

National Para powerlifter Abdullah Kayapınar, who holds a world championship title, three European runner up finishes and a silver medal from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and makes Türkiye proud in every competition he enters, said his introduction to sport dated back to 2013, when he was working in a restaurant in Sivas. He met athletes through a Paralympic powerlifting event held in Sivas at the time, describing that encounter as the turning point in his life.

Kayapınar emphasized that his coach Mehmet Sevinç had taken him to and from training regularly for four years, supporting him selflessly in every area of need, and said that dedication was one of the strongest foundations of his career. The national athlete said they achieved their first European runner up finish in 2018 and had continued to improve year after year through consistent work.

Kayapınar said the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was the result of years of effort and belief, and thanked all those who supported them on their journey to success. He emphasized that the Kalyon family's contribution was a major source of morale and strength for the athletes, and that the support was invaluable in both sporting and human terms.

The ceremony concluded with a group photograph following the signing of the sponsorship agreement and TMPK President Murat Aksu's presentation of a national team jersey to Kalyon İnşaat Chairman Murathan Kalyoncu.