I was certainly aware that the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), held in Skopje from July 20-26, would teach me something as an Olympic volunteer, but it went beyond my expectations. I spent the entire week at the venue with competitions in taekwondo, which allowed me to see a world I hadn’t previously been aware of. I witnessed the excitement, passion, and emotions experienced by the competitors firsthand. And not only that – I also learned how points are tallied and how one competitor can dominate another in this beautiful sport, a sport I’d never understood before without looking at the score. It was truly emotional. From the motivational speech the coaches gave to the athletes before the match to the roar of victory in the arena, I thought I could never truly experience such a profound experience at an event.

Furthermore, as a Turk, I was proud to witness Turkey take first place in the medal standings with a total of seven medals: three gold, two silver, and two bronze. I spoke with the medal-winning athletes and the Turkish delegation, sharing their excitement and joy.

Looking back on all this, I not only added a new sport to my experience, but I also learned how much emotion a sport can bring to a country’s happiness.

Efe Özyalçın