Competition Format
Our event offers a culminating championship-level experience across two divisions, giving every team the opportunity to compete, present, and connect in a celebratory atmosphere.
- The competition runs in a dual-division format— Rumeli Division and Valens Division. Each division has its own competition fields and dedicated practice fields.
- Each division will have 4 practice fields available in total across the event to help teams refine strategies before match play.
- Teams will compete in up to qualification matches within their division before advancing to playoffs. Robot reliability is essential.
- Alliances from both divisions will merge into a single playoff bracket for the finals, bringing the event together for an exciting conclusion.
- Team members may include a mix of middle school and high school students.
- Awards will be presented at event level, recognizing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place across all award categories.
- Team portfolios will be collected online. The portfolio, form, and deadline will be announced.
- Judging takes place directly in the pit area. Judge pairs will visit each team for a presentation session and a separate Q&A session.
- The rules in the competition manual will apply at Istanbul Premier. Please make sure you have read the competition manual before coming to the event.
- IMPORTANT: All teams are required to bring their signed Turkish version of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Form. Every member of the team must fill out the form individually. For students under 18 years of age, a parent/guardian signature is required on their forms as well. Teams will not be able to complete their event registration if any members’ GDPR forms are missing. Click here for the Fikret Yüksel Foundation GDPR Form
The purpose of this page is to provide information about the Turkish Regionals to help our guest teams prepare for and compete in our events. If any data on this page conflicts with that on the FIRST page, the FIRST data is valid.
Two Civilizations. One Stage.
Our divisions are named to honor the two great civilizations that shaped Istanbul — bridging Ottoman heritage and Byzantine legacy under a single competition.
Named after Rumeli — the Ottoman term for the European territories of the empire. Rumeli represents the vast reach of Ottoman civilization across Europe, carrying centuries of scientific, architectural, and cultural achievement that continues to resonate today.
⬡ Ottoman Empire
Named after Emperor Valens, who commissioned the iconic Valens Aqueduct still standing in Istanbul today. A symbol of Byzantine engineering and ingenuity, this structure has supplied the city for over 1,600 years — a fitting tribute to lasting innovation.
⬡ Byzantine EmpireTogether, Rumeli and Valens represent the two civilizations whose legacy is woven into the fabric of Istanbul — uniting both traditions under a single competition.
Game & Field Specifications
Competition is played on the official Robopiece FTC Game Field — the FIRST-approved game field for this season, sourced and distributed by Wattos Otomasyon as the official AndyMark Game Specific supplier.
Pit Information
Each team is assigned a dedicated pit space for the duration of the event. Pits are clearly marked and equipped with the essentials to keep your robot ready between matches.
Meal Options
There are many restaurants in Ataköy Athletics Arena. In addition, you can use the event area entrance to receive your online food orders.
Options for ordering food online to the venue
For catering services we suggest using YEMEKSEPETI https://www.yemeksepeti.com/en/ or GETİR https://getir.com/yemek/ to order food to the Event Location.
Instructions: – They have both a phone app, and a website, you can order from either.
First you’ll need to select an area to search for food within – While at the İstanbul Ataköy Atletizm Hall, you should select “Zuhuratbaba, Dr. Remzi Kazancıgil Cd. No:32, 34147 Bakırköy/İstanbul“
then click “list restaurants”. Once you’ve chosen a restaurant, and the food you would like to order, click on the basket, Approve the basket, you’ll have to log in (either create a basic account or log in with Facebook) and it will ask you about delivery instructions.
Use a phone number that preferably can receive calls here in Türkiye as the delivery person may need to call you to find you.
For Address city and area you can drag the pin to show the location or;
in the address section write :
******* for İstanbul Ataköy: “Zuhuratbaba, Dr. Remzi Kazancıgil Cd. No:32, 34147 Bakırköy/İstanbul” And for the description:
“Lütfen yemekleri güvenlik kapısına getirin ve Takım , XXXX’e teslim ediniz.”
*******
P.S. : Don’t forget to put your Team Number and Name on the text Then choose your payment type and approve the order.
Important Note: It might be forbidden to enter motor couriers to venue area. That’s why they need to bring your orders to security gate.
Transportation
Public transportation is generally very effective in Türkiye’s major cities. In İstanbul, metro lines and other rail systems are often faster than road vehicles (buses, cars, etc.), especially during rush hours. Traffic can be unpredictable — so sticking to surface roads can be risky in terms of time.
Location
Ataköy / Zuhuratbaba – Dr. Remzi Kazancıgil Street, Bakırköy
The Area served by public transportation options such as metro, buses, and taxis. Using Google Maps is highly recommended to compare different routes in real time and choose the fastest option.
Both İstanbul airports are connected to the city by metro as well as coach buses that run to popular destinations. Coach buses may be easier if you have larger luggage. Taxis are also available, but traffic and language barriers can sometimes make them challenging.
İstanbul Airport: Metro Line M11 (U1) and Havaİst Coaches — https://www.hava.ist/?lang=en
Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Metro Line M4 and HavaBüs Coaches — https://www.havabus.com/
Metro is well integrated with Google Maps, making it easy to plan your trip.
If you plan to drive, please check in advance whether on-site parking is available at your specific venue — nearby paid parking options are usually available in most districts.
