The deal was signed at the KOÇ Sports Club in Bağlarbaşı with Turgay Durak, chief executive of Koç Holding; Oya Ünlü Kızı, the company's director of corporate communications and external affairs; Uğur Erdener, President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey (NOCT), and Neşe Gündoğan, the NOCT's secretary general, all in attendance at the event.

KOÇ Holding previously sponsored the Turkish Olympic Committee in its ultimately unsuccessful bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, eventually handed to Toyko.

The loss was a fifth unsuccessful attempt by Turkey to host the Olympic Games following failures in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

"Istanbul is the correct city for the Olympics," said Durak.

"We believe that this dream will come true one day; that is why we wanted to be the sponsor of Turkish Olympic Committee.

"We wish to work in cooperation with the Turkish Olympic Committee for three years to develop the Olympic spirit in Turkey and support the Committee's international activities.

"We believe wholeheartedly that if sport becomes a lifestyle choice and is encouraged at an early age, this would result in big achievements in the future of sport."

Erdener, added: "The support and collaboration of Koç Holding, which was also shown during the candidacy process of İstanbul 2020, is highly significant for the future of Turkish sports.

"I convey my thanks to them for their vision."

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