Selim Sırrı Tarcan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selim Sırrı Tarcan
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| Born | 25 March 1874 Larissa, Sanjak of Tirhala, Ottoman Empire
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| Died | 2 March 1957 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Turkish |
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| Political party | CHP |
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Selim Sırrı Tarcan (born March 25, 1874 – died March 2, 1957) was a very important Turkish person. He was an educator, a sports leader, and a politician. People remember him most for helping to create the National Olympic Committee of Turkey. He also brought the sport of volleyball in Turkey to Turkey.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Selim Sırrı Tarcan was born on March 25, 1874, in Larissa, which was part of the Ottoman Empire back then. His father, Yusuf Bey, was a military officer. Sadly, his father died in battle in 1876 when Selim Sırrı was only two years old.
When he was five, his mother moved with him and his two older sisters to Istanbul. His uncle, who was a military officer, lived there. Later, his uncle was sent away because he disagreed with the Sultan. Because of this, his mother enrolled Selim Sırrı in the private Galatasaray High School in 1882. He studied there for eight years and learned French.
Due to money problems, he had to switch schools in 1890. He went to a free boarding school called "Mühendishane-i Berrî-i Hümâyûn." This school later became the famous Istanbul Technical University.
Selim Sırrı loved physical education from a young age. His teacher at Galatasaray High School, Ali Faik Bey, encouraged him. He was the best student in physical education at school. He even won awards for his gymnastics skills! This made his mother a bit sad, as she wished he was better at his regular lessons. Selim Sırrı also practiced gymnastics and bodybuilding at home with friends. He wanted to become stronger and fitter.
Some people say Selim Sırrı was the first Turkish footballer. In 1898, he played in four matches for the Football Club Smyrna in Izmir.
Helping the Olympic Committee
Pierre de Coubertin, who started the International Olympic Committee (IOC), wanted Turkey to join the Olympic Games. The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. In 1907, Pierre de Coubertin visited Istanbul. He met Selim Sırrı Bey through a friend.
Pierre de Coubertin asked Selim Sırrı Bey to create the National Olympic Committee of Turkey. At that time, Selim Sırrı Bey was a physical education teacher in İzmir. He also wrote sports articles for a magazine. He had to wait until 1908 to form the committee because of the political situation in the Ottoman Empire.
Ahmet İhsan Bey, who published the magazine Servet-i Fünun, became the first president of the Turkish committee. Selim Sırrı Bey became the first secretary general. In May 1909, Selim Sırrı Bey represented Turkey at an IOC meeting in Berlin, Germany. Turkey officially joined the IOC in 1911.
After World War I ended in 1918, Turkey was not allowed to be part of the IOC. This was because Turkey had been on Germany's side in the war. So, Turkey could not join the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. The National Olympic Committee of Turkey then closed down.
In 1921, Turkey was allowed back into the IOC. This happened thanks to votes from Hungary and Pierre de Coubertin. Because of this, Selim Sırrı Bey started the National Committee again in 1922. He was chosen as the chairman of the committee. He stayed in this role until 1926. He resigned after some people criticized his strong ideas about amateur sports. In 1930, he also left his position at the IOC.
The Youth Anthem
In 1909, Selim Sırrı Bey traveled to Sweden. He went to the Higher Institute of Physical Education to study physical education and gymnastics. He finished his studies and came back home in 1910. Then, he started working as a physical education teacher in schools.
When he returned, he brought some Swedish songs with him. One of these was a folk song called Tre trallande jäntor ("Three carolling girls"). In 1917, this folk music became the Gençlik Marşı (Youth Anthem). It is also known as "Dağ Başını Duman Almış" and has Turkish lyrics written by Ali Ulvi Bey.
Contributions to Youth and Sports
Selim Sırrı Tarcan worked as a physical education teacher in many high schools. He continued this until the Turkish Republic was formed in 1923. In 1931, he became the Head Inspector of Physical Education. This was a big role in the Ministry of National Education. He worked there until he retired in 1935.
He started gymnastics festivals in 1916. These events were the beginning of today's big celebrations held on May 19. This day is now known as the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.
Selim Sırrı Tarcan is also known as the person who brought volleyball to Turkey. Between 1920 and 1924, he taught the rules of this sport to other teachers. This helped volleyball grow in Turkey.
He wrote more than thirty articles for a magazine called Gürbüz Türk Çocuğu (meaning "Robust Turkish Child"). In these articles, Tarcan taught people about modern physical education, sports, and games. He explained how these activities help children grow both mentally and physically.
He wrote 58 books and about 2,500 articles. He also gave around 1,530 lectures. Most of his work was about sports.
Political Life
After retiring from his job as head inspector, Tarcan became a politician. In the elections on February 8, 1935, he ran for a seat in the parliament. He was part of the Republican People's Party, which was the only political party at that time. He was elected two more times, in 1939 and 1943, as a representative for Ordu.
Death
Selim Sırrı Tarcan passed away on March 2, 1957, in Istanbul. He was 82 years old.
Legacy
Many places are named after Selim Sırrı Tarcan to honor him. A volleyball sports hall in Ankara is called the Selim Sırrı Tarcan Sport Hall. The sports hall at the Galatasaray High School also has his name.
There is also a primary school in Şişli, Istanbul, called Gülbağ Selim Sırrı Tarcan İ.Ö.O.
Images for kids
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Selim Sırrı Tarcan
