Turkish Cypriot Runners Highlight "50 Years of Peace" in London Race

Two Turkish Cypriot runners, Okan Baysan and Halil Izzet, participated in the traditional London race under the banner "50 Years of Peace on the Island."

According to the TRNC's London office, the athletes wanted to emphasize the significance of the Cyprus Peace Operation initiated by Turkey on July 20, 1974. They believe this operation was a crucial turning point for Turkish Cypriots.

The runners aimed to bring attention to the peace that has endured for half a century through their participation in the race.

Before the race, the athletes met with Ambassador Çimen Keskin, the TRNC Representative in London, and Kenan Nafi, President of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in the UK.

The diplomats praised the achievements of the Turkish Cypriot community in the UK, noting their significant contributions to promoting their identity and culture.

Okan Baysan, born in Lefka, Cyprus, studied electrical engineering at Purdue University in the USA. He has held key positions at companies like IBM UK Ltd, Capita UK, Sophos, and Nortel/Netas, and is currently a senior manager for quality assurance and testing at Capgemini UK.

Halil Izzet, born and raised in London, graduated in Arabic and International Relations from Exeter University in 2009. He later earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Exeter University in 2015 and a master's degree from UCL in 2016. In 2023, he served as vice president of the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in the UK. Halil has experience in races like the Nuclear Race and ran the 10-kilometer London race for the first time this year.