Rondel of RT1 Istanbul
The first attempt to charter RT Turkey was 1958 when RT272 Shrewsbury, RTBI was exploring possibilities to extend RT to Turkey. There were several attempts from then, culminating July 2000 when a Turkish citizen that was member of RT12 Lucerne, RTCH got 6 stangers meeting in a hotel lobby in Istanbul the first time to discuss the possibility of introducing RT to Turkey.
After 15 month of planning in close cooperation with RT Switzerland and later RT France as well RT1 Istanbul was officially chartered with 14 members at the 21.09.2002. After some quiet years 2008 RT2 was chartered and 2010 RT3 — both clubs in Istanbul as well.
Despite having three tables in Turkey they never applied to become a national RT Association. Recent attempts to re-charter RT Turkey have not yet materialised.