‘Yılmaz’ means ‘dauntless’. ‘Argüden’ means ‘honorable’, ‘guide for integrity’ and is pronounced as ‘argue then’, as in the phrase “if you don’t agree, argue then.”
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Stratejist, Yönetim Kurullarının Doktoru Strategist, Governance Guru

Sports Ambassador Proposes Multi-Country Olympics Effort

‘Boğaziçi Sports Ambassador’ Award recipient Dr. Yılmaz Argüden proposes to organize the Olympic Games under the theme “Olympics Unite” with the collaboration of “Türkiye, Palestine, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Italy.”

At the Boğaziçi University Sports Award Ceremony on December 20, 2021, Dr. Yılmaz Argüden was recognized as the “Boğaziçi Sports Ambassador”.

With the spirit of a Sports Ambassador, during his acceptance speech Dr. Argüden shared an innovative idea to organize the Olympic Games under the theme “Olympics Unite” with the collaboration of “Türkiye, Palestine, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Italy.”

The Awards Ceremony that was organized by the Boğaziçi University Sports Committee to recognize top achievers in numerous sports fields. The recipient of the ‘Boğaziçi Sports Ambassador’ Award, Dr. Argüden said “Sportsmanship spirit unites people from different countries and cultures and motivates all to perform their best. Collaboration in organizing the Olympic Games by countries that host key religious sites such as İstanbul that has been the capital of three global empires from different religions, Jerusalem, Jeddah, and Rome could provide an opportunity to build much needed bridges between different religions and cultures for the common good of humanity. Such a joint effort will not only be an important message to unite the efforts for a sustainable future, but also make the ever-increasing costs of organizing the Olympic Games more economic and will also increase the attraction of the Games to larger audiences. Sharing this idea at the Boğaziçi University that is recognized by the importance it places on meritocracy, inclusiveness, and diversity, and that is located in a city that connects continents is aligned with the proposed theme of “Olympics Unite”. It is an honor for me to receive this prestigious Award and to share this idea at the 41st anniversary of initiating the first international SportsFest at the Boğaziçi University as a Student leader of the Sports Committee in 1980.”

About Boğaziçi Sports Ambassador, Dr. Yılmaz Argüden:

First International SportsFest was organized when Dr. Argüden was the President of Boğaziçi University Sports Committee (1979–80). He played for the Boğaziçi University Basketball team that won the National Championship twice in a row (1977 & 1978). He became the only student to graduate from the Boğaziçi University to receive the President’s Prize for Student Leadership and to graduate as the top student academically. He has received his Ph.D. in Policy Analysis from Rand Graduate School with General Distinction. 

He is the founder and Chairman of, ARGE Consulting, globally recognized Turkish management consulting firm and Argüden Governance Academy foundation. He has served on 70+ boards in 4 different jurisdictions and as the Chairman of Erdemir and Rothschild&Co Türkiye, and as the Vice-Chair of Turkish Basketball Federation. As the Chairman of National Quality Association (KalDer), he initiated the National Quality Movement. As the elected Chairman of Local Networks, he served on the Board of UN Global Compact. He has served on the Corporate Governance Advisory Board for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and as the Vice-Chair of Governance Committee of Business at OECD. He is a Fulbright, Tübitak, NATO, and Eisenhower Fellow and was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.

December 21st, 2021