T3 Podcast | Alper Afşin Özdemir – 10 Million People in Türkiye's Esports Network

In this article, we examine the eighth episode of the third season of the T3 Podcast, featuring Alper Afşin Özdemir, founding president of the Turkish E-Sports Federation (TESFED), as we explore the rise of e-sports in Türkiye and the country’s “National Technology Initiative” in this field.

Alper Afşin Özdemir entered the sector in 2015 as the founder of an e-sports team and personally experienced the immense scale of the industry. The establishment of TESFED under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2018 positioned Türkiye among the pioneering nations to officially recognize e-sports. Özdemir emphasizes that e-sports, like traditional sports such as football, will gradually gain the recognition and value it deserves in public perception, offering young people not only the opportunity to become players but also a wide range of alternative career paths.

Through the efforts of TESFED, Türkiye has achieved significant success on the international stage. In 2023, Türkiye’s national e-sports teams won a total of five medals, including second place in PUBG Mobile and E-Football and first place at the International Olympic Event. Özdemir states that their goal is to multiply these achievements by a factor of ten. He explains that Türkiye aims to become a global leader in e-sports even at this early stage, aspiring to be a model nation widely emulated around the world.

According to Özdemir, e-sports represents “a new form of socialization,” replacing traditional methods of interaction through the digital networks young people build. He stresses that e-sports is not asocial, contrary to common perception. The professional e-sports world, much like traditional sports, encompasses a wide array of specialized roles—from nutritionists and coaches to analysts and broadcasters. Although professional players are typically active between the ages of 15 and 25, they can transition into numerous other career opportunities within this ecosystem afterward.

Alper Afşin Özdemir believes that e-sports holds significant potential for Türkiye’s National Technology Initiative. He sees the country’s “unicorn” successes in the gaming sector as potential inspiration for developing domestic e-sports titles. He underscores that globally successful e-sports games originating from Türkiye, once adopted by federations and players worldwide, would make substantial contributions to the nation’s technological and economic strength.

Addressing young people pursuing careers in e-sports, Özdemir encourages them to pursue their goals if they believe in their talent. However, he particularly emphasizes that education and health must never be compromised along this path. He adds that TESFED is always ready to support youth and is working to establish Türkiye as a global hub for e-sports.