In addition to its achievements on the field, VakıfBank also carries out significant social responsibility projects off the field. The team has launched another world-first project with its ‘volleyball for everyone’ approach. The yellow-blacks, in collaboration with BlindLook Turkey, provided a volleyball experience for 10 sports fans with visual impairments on November 6. Hosted by VakıfBank Vice President Ferkan Merdan, the guests toured the museum, touched and learned about the trophies, and then moved to the main hall to feel and experience the net, the ball, and the court. The guests had the opportunity to meet Banu Can Schürmann, Giovanni Guidetti, captain Zehra Güneş, Cansu Özbay, and the assistant coaches and then watched the Calcit Kamnik match in the CEV Champions League from the stands reserved for them. The fans with visual impairments received descriptive commentary through headsets, overall having an unforgettable volleyball experience.
VakıfBank, Turkey’s most successful team in the international arena, continues to carry out significant social responsibility projects alongside its on-field achievements. In this context, the yellow-blacks organized another impactful event, offering an unforgettable volleyball experience to 10 guests with visual impairments in collaboration with BlindLook Turkey, ahead of the CEV Champions League match. Hosted by VakıfBank Sports Club Vice President Ferkan Merdan, the guests first visited VakıfBank’s museum full of trophies and experienced the atmosphere of the museum by touching the trophies, jerseys and medals. The guests then toured VakıfBank Sports Palace and arrived at the main hall. While the guests touched the net, the ball and the ground, volleyball rules and moves were explained to them in a descriptive manner. During this time, the visually impaired sports fans came together with VakıfBank General Manager Banu Can Schürmann, VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti, captain Zehra Güneş, Cansu Özbay and assistant coaches.
The match was reported with descriptions
After visiting VakıfBank Sports Hall and experiencing volleyball, the fans then followed the Calcit Kamnik match that VakıfBank faced in the opening match of the CEV Champions League Group C. The match was explained to the guests sitting in the stands reserved for them through headsets. With this project, a first in the sport of volleyball, people with visual impairments shared in all the excitement of the game. The guests, who were told all the action of the match from the beginning to the end, had an unforgettable volleyball experience.
They listened to Giovanni Guidetti's tactics during the breaks
Visually impaired visitors also listened to the tactics given to the players by VakıfBank Head Coach Giovanni Guidetti during the breaks during the match. The second microphone was given to VakıfBank Assistant Coach Saim Pekkan, who turned up the microphone volume during the breaks and the tactics and excitement given to the visitors were conveyed moment by moment.
VakıfBank Sports Club Vice President Ferkan Merdan: “We wanted to make volleyball accessible with our project that overcomes obstacles”
Making evaluations about the project, VakıfBank Sports Club Vice President Ferkan Merdan said: “At VakıfBank, we prioritize taking innovative and exemplary steps toward accessibility and inclusiveness, not just on the field but throughout all areas of society. With our ‘volleyball for everyone’ approach, we aimed to raise awareness and provide visually impaired volleyball fans with an opportunity to experience the match atmosphere. We have made a world-wide first for our guests to feel the excitement of volleyball, to fully experience the dynamism of the game and the VakıfBank spirit. Their enthusiasm remains an inspiring memory for us, and as VakıfBank, we will continue to work on projects that break down barriers and make sports accessible to all.”
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