Hasan Arat (born Adana, 27 September 1959) is a Turkish sports administrator, businessman, former professional basketball player and current chairman of Beşiktaş.[1] He was the leader of Istanbul's Bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Hasan Arat | |
---|---|
35th President of Beşiktaş JK | |
Assumed office 3 December 2023 | |
Preceded by | Ahmet Nur Çebi |
Personal details | |
Born | Adana, Turkey | 27 September 1959
Spouse | Simin Arat |
Children | 2 |
Residence | Istanbul |
Profession | Businessperson |
Sports administration
editHasan Arat served as the vice-president of Beşiktaş J.K. between 1998 and 2000.
Arat rose to international prominence as leader of Istanbul's bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Vice-President of the Turkish National Olympic Committee was appointed leader of the Bid when Istanbul were officially shortlisted as a Candidate City by the International Olympic Committee in May 2012.[2] This was Istanbul's fifth and most successful Bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.[3] The announcement of the 2020 Host City was made on 7 September 2013 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires following presentations by each candidate city,[4] and Istanbul lost to Tokyo in the final round of voting by the International Olympic Committee, following the earlier elimination of Madrid.[5] Arat led Istanbul's final presentation to the International Olympic Committee members [6][7] and following Istanbul's presentation, Arat said, "The Bid has united the people of Turkey, especially our young people, behind a common vision for our country’s future. Whatever happens with the vote, this bid has brought the whole nation together; it has inspired and engaged our younger generation; and it has made a lasting connection between Turkey and the Olympic Movement."[8][9]
Following Arat's leadership of the Istanbul 2020 Bid, he was elected as an Executive Committee member of the European Olympic Committee,[10][11] and appointed a member of the International Olympic Committee's Marketing Commission,[12][13] as well as the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Marketing and New Sources of Finance Commission.[14] In May 2014, IOC President, Thomas Bach, announced that Arat would be one of nine members of a new Olympic Bidding Procedure Working Group, which aimed to review the bidding procedure to host an Olympic Games in order to make it simpler and more appealing for cities to apply.[15][16] On 25 July 2019, it was announced that Arat would be the Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for the 2023 European Games due to take place in Krakow and the Malopolska region of Poland.[17] Arat joined the Executive Board of the World Athletics Council on 24 November 2019.[18] Arat is the Chairman of the Board of BIDEV (Basketball Solidarity and Education Foundation),[19] a non-profit organization with the aim of contributing to the development of Turkish basketball. On 4 August 2022, the NBA and BIDEV announced a multiyear collaboration to launch the Jr. NBA Turkey League, a youth basketball league for boys and girls ages 11-14 from 30 participating primary schools in Istanbul.[20] He is also Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beymen Group, a luxury fashion organisation [21] On 10 January 2023, Arat was awarded a "Golden Mongoose" Special Medal of Honour 'for the outstanding contribution to the fortification of the international relations and friendship among nations as one of the best traditions of sport'.[22] In September 2023, Arat was presented with Honorary Citizenship of Malopolska and the Medal of Honour by Marshal of Malopolska Witold Kozlowski for his role in the European Games Krakow Malopolska 2023.[23]
On 3 December 2023, Hasan Arat was elected as the new president of Beşiktaş at an extraordinary general assembly meeting held at the Akatlar Arena in Istanbul.[24] Winning the election with 7,271 votes, he competed against with Serdal Adalı in the extraordinary congress, who received 2,714 votes less than him.[25] He received his mandate at a ceremony held at Tüpraş Stadium on 5 December 2023.[1][24]
Basketball career
editHasan Arat played professional basketball for 7 years. After beginning his career at Adana Demirspor, he played for 5 years for Besiktas Gymnastics Club (BJK) from 1977 -1981. He was the Vice-President of Besiktas Gymnastics Club (BJK) from 1998-2000.[26] Hasan Arat started playing basketball in Fenerbahçe infrastructure and had his jubilee in Galatasaray.
Business career
editArat is the Partner and Chairman of Novo Invest, a multifaceted real estate investment and development company,[27] the Founder and Partner of Dome Group, an independent Corporate Finance and M&A advisory firm based in London and Istanbul, and the Vice Chairman of Turkey's biggest retail group Beymen.[28]
Arat holds a variety of other business positions, including membership of the Board of Trustees of Özyeğin University,[29] board member of FIBA Holding,[30] vice-president of the United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNTWO) affiliated members board of directors, representing the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB),[31][32] and former President and current member of the Executive Council and Board of Directors of the International Apparel Federation (IAF).[33]
Arat was awarded the ‘Businessman of the Year’ award in 1996 by Economist Magazine, the National Productivity Center of Turkey and Dünya Newspaper.[34]
Personal life
editHe lives in Istanbul with his wife, Simin, and has two children.
Honours
edit- In June 2024, Arat was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2024)[35] in recognition of the highly successful 3rd European Games in Kraków- Małopolska in 2023 [36]
References
edit- ^ a b "Beşiktaş'ın yeni başkanı Hasan Arat". ntvspor. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Exclusive: Istanbul 2020 appoints Hasan Arat as bid leader". Insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "The Business Year". Thebusinessyear.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "2020 Host City Election". Olympic.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ Jacob Steinberg (7 September 2013). "Olympics 2020 decision (Tokyo, Istanbul or Madrid) – as it happened". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Istanbul 2020 Optimistic Ahead of Vote". businesswire.com. 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Turkish PM, Istanbul team vow to 'mobilize all means' for 2020 Olympics ahead of vote - OTHERS". Hurriyetdailynews.com. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Istanbul 2020 Optimistic Ahead of Vote". Reuters.com. Retrieved 29 April 2015.[dead link ]
- ^ "Istanbul 2020 Optimistic Ahead of Vote". Businesswire.com. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Ireland's Hickey to head EOC until 2017". Sportspromedia.com. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ Cristina Diaz. "Executive Committee". Eurolympic.org. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Ser Miang Ng and Takeda chosen by Bach to head IOC Finance and Marketing Commissions". Insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Marketing". Olympic.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "ANOC Commissions 2019-2022" (PDF). anocolympic.org. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ "IOC President Thomas Bach announces composition of Olympic Agenda 2020 Working Groups". Olympic.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Agenda 2020 Olympic Bidding Procedure Evaluation Group Named". GamesBids.com. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Arat appointed chair of EOC Coordination Commission for 2023 European Games". 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Arat, Hoffman and Sabharwal join World Athletics Executive Board". 24 November 2019.
- ^ "BİDEV - Basketbol için Destek ve Eğitim Vakfı". bidev.org.tr. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "NBA and BIDEV launch Jr. NBA league in Turkey". 4 August 2022.
- ^ https://www.beymengroup.com/en/hasan-arat.php
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ https://www.eurolympic.org/hasan-arat-represents-eoc-at-ii-european-sports-tourism-congress-in-zakopane/
- ^ a b "Hasan Arat elected new president of Besiktas". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Hasan Arat'tan başkanlık sonrası ilk açıklama". Aydınlık (in Turkish). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü". Bjk.com.tr. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "The Team".
- ^ "KAP".
- ^ "Board of Trustees | Özyeğin University". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ "Fiba Group - Hakkımızda - Yönetim Kurulumuz". Fibaholding.com.tr. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "TOBB joins the UN World Tourism Organization's administration". Tobb.org.tr. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Unlocking potential: Cambodia, Burundi, Turkey". Tradeforum.org. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "IAF'a Türk başkan". ZAMAN.com.tr. 22 July 1995. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Beşiktaş Kulübünün yeni başkanı Hasan Arat oldu, Hasan Arat kimdir?". Dünya (in Turkish). 12 March 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Odznaczenia dla działaczy sportowych". President of Poland (in Polish). 18 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ https://www.anocolympic.org/olympic-movement/prestigious-polish-awards-for-eoc-president-capralos-and-exco-member-arat/#:~:text=June%2019%2C%202024-,Prestigious%20Polish%20Awards%20for%20EOC%20President%20Capralos%20and%20ExCo%20Member,of%20the%20Republic%20of%20Poland.