Turkish cultural center inks deal with NBA team

Turkey's state-run cultural agency Yunus Emre Institute announced on Jan. 29 that it has signed a deal with NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers to promote Turkish culture.

"We are truly honored to sign an agreement with Cleveland Cavaliers @cavs in terms of promoting Turkish culture," Halid Bulut, director of Yunus Emre's Washington D.C. office, said on Twitter.

"We also appreciate for the gesture they made, remembering the victims of the tragic earthquake in Elazığ and Malatya following our agreement," Bulut said, referring to the eastern provinces of Turkey where a 6.8-magnitude quake claimed 41 lives on Jan. 24.

The NBA commemorated the victims of the earthquake during a Jan. 28 game between Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans.

"Our prayers are with you Elazığ and Malatya," read electronic billboards at Cavaliers' Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse during the game.

On Jan. 25, Cavaliers' Turkish international Cedi Osman launched an aid campaign, announcing via Twitter that he would donate $100 for every three-pointer made during a Jan. 25 game against Chicago Bulls.

With colleagues joining him, the campaign raised at least 385,000 Turkish Liras (roughly $64,800). The Chicago Bulls won the match 118-106, and a total of 25 three-pointers made during the game.

Under the new deal between the NBA team and Yunus Emre, a cultural event featuring Turkish culture and cuisine will take place on April 11, when Cavaliers will face Milwaukee Bucks, where another Turkish international, Ersan Ilyasova, plays.

The Yunus Emre Institute is a public foundation that works to promote Turkey's language, history, culture and art to increase cultural exchange.