International School Sport Federation cancels Winter Gymnasiade in Turkey after earthquake

Rescue workers and volunteers conduct search and rescue operations in the rubble of a collapsed building, in Diyarbakir on February 6, 2023, after a 7.8 - magnitude earthquake struck the country's south-east. PHOTO AFP GENEVA -- The Winter Gymnasiade 2023 in Erzurum, T rkiye has been canceled due to the recent earthquake, according to the International School Sport Federation ISF and T rkiye Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Following the devastating earthquake in T rkiye on Monday morning, the ISF announced the cancellation of the 2023 ISF Winter Gymnasiade in Erzurum from the 11th to 19th February.

Hamza Yerlikaya, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of T rkiye, said in a letter to ISF that ISF Winter Gymnasiade Erzurum 2023 has been canceled because of the force major situation in our country due to the huge and sorrowful earthquake disasters that occurred at 04: 17 and 13: 24 on February 6th, 2023. On behalf of the whole ISF family, we would like to express our deepest sympathies for the people of T rkiye during this difficult time. Our thoughts and our support are with the victims, their families and all of the people of T rkiye recovering from this traumatic event, ISF said.

The ISF wishes to express its full solidarity with the Turkish people and hopes that they will be able to overcome this difficult ordeal with great patience, determination and courage.