Research Article

Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul

Volume: 7 Number: 3 September 30, 2025

Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul

Abstract

This study examines the contribution of Spor Istanbul AŞ to social sustainability goals through sport at the level of local authorities. Employing a qualitative research design, it analyses institutional reports published between 2019 and 2024 using content analysis. The findings reveal the role of sport in advancing social inclusion, health, education, and equality in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Spor Istanbul’s activities are closely aligned with social sustainability, particularly with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Operating with a public service mission rather than pursuing profit, the organisation evaluates the societal outcomes of its services through Social Return on Investment (SROI) reports. This perspective positions sport not merely as a form of physical activity, but as a strategic instrument for enhancing social well-being. By highlighting the role of sport in the social sustainability policies of local authorities, the study demonstrates its effectiveness as a public policy tool for promoting social justice and inclusion at the local level.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding from Spor Istanbul Inc. or any other institution.

Ethical Statement

This study did not involve the collection of any human participant data or personal information that would require ethics committee approval; instead, only publicly available documents and reports were analysed. For this reason, the research did not require ethics committee approval.

References

  1. Açıkgöz, S., Demirbaş, G., & Haudenhuyse, R. (2021). Sport and development in Turkey: Community sport participation, leisure spaces and social inclusion. In C. Tınaz & B. Knott (Eds.), Sport and development in emerging nations (pp. 185-200). Routledge.
  2. Akpınar, R., Taşcı, K., & Sarı, V. İ. (Eds.). (2019). Şehir ve şehir yönetimi [City and city management]. Nobel Publishing.
  3. Atalı, L. (2019, June). Seçimi kazanan belediye başkanlarının spor ve rekreasyon projelerinin incelenmesi [An analysis of sports and recreation projects of elected mayors]. In E. Masal (Ed.), Proceedings of ERPA International Congresses on Education 2019 (p. 282). EDUGARDEN.
  4. Aydemir, A. & Bayındır, M. (2024). Investigation of sports services activities in local governments in terms of various variables. Beden Eğitimi Spor Sağlık ve Efor Dergisi, 3(1), 99-111.
  5. Bal, E. (2021). Comparison of sports training and services provided by local governments in Istanbul and Bursa provinces: sports training and services. International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 13(1), 137-148. Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27-40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
  6. Bozaykut, T., & Yılmaz, B. T. (2021). Sağlıklı ve kapsayıcı bir toplum için kamusal spor faaliyetleri: Spor İstanbul örneği [Public sports activities for a healthy and inclusive society: The case of Spor Istanbul]. Mikado Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Danışmanlığı. https://mikadoconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/spor-istanbul.pdf
  7. C40 Cities. (n.d.). City of Istanbul commits to climate action to tackle global climate emergency; Signs onto C40’s Deadline 2020 program. https://www.c40.org/news/city-of-istanbul-commits-to-climate-action-to-tackle-global-climate-emergency-signs-onto-c40-s-deadline-2020-program/
  8. Chong, Y.-Y., Sherry, E., Harith, S., & Khoo, S. (2022). Sport for development programs contributing to sustainable development goal 5: A review. Sustainability, 14(11), 6828. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116828

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Sports and Recreation

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2025

Submission Date

August 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 30, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 3

APA
Çalışkan, K., & Karaküçük, S. (2025). Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul. Journal of Sport for All and Recreation, 7(3), 567-577. https://doi.org/10.56639/jsar.1763575
AMA
1.Çalışkan K, Karaküçük S. Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul. JSAR. 2025;7(3):567-577. doi:10.56639/jsar.1763575
Chicago
Çalışkan, Kadir, and Suat Karaküçük. 2025. “Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul”. Journal of Sport for All and Recreation 7 (3): 567-77. https://doi.org/10.56639/jsar.1763575.
EndNote
Çalışkan K, Karaküçük S (September 1, 2025) Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul. Journal of Sport for All and Recreation 7 3 567–577.
IEEE
[1]K. Çalışkan and S. Karaküçük, “Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul”, JSAR, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 567–577, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.56639/jsar.1763575.
ISNAD
Çalışkan, Kadir - Karaküçük, Suat. “Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul”. Journal of Sport for All and Recreation 7/3 (September 1, 2025): 567-577. https://doi.org/10.56639/jsar.1763575.
JAMA
1.Çalışkan K, Karaküçük S. Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul. JSAR. 2025;7:567–577.
MLA
Çalışkan, Kadir, and Suat Karaküçük. “Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul”. Journal of Sport for All and Recreation, vol. 7, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 567-7, doi:10.56639/jsar.1763575.
Vancouver
1.Kadir Çalışkan, Suat Karaküçük. Leave No One Behind: Social Sustainability through Sport in Local Authorities - The Case of Spor Istanbul. JSAR. 2025 Sep. 1;7(3):567-7. doi:10.56639/jsar.1763575

Creative Commons Lisansı

Articles published by Journal Sports for All and Recreation is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License.