region. Rize's main exports are agriculturally based; tea and kiwifruit are among its most popular commodities. Education Rize University was founded in 2006. Its name was changed to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in 2011. Culture Rize Castle is a partly ruined medieval castle to the southwest of the city centre. Sports Rize's sports venues include Rize Atatürk Stadium, Yeni Rize Şehir Stadı and Rize Sports Complex consisting of Rize Sports Hall and Rize Indoor Swimming Pool. The football team of Çaykur Rizespor play in the TFF First League. Pazarspor football team compete in the TFF Third League. Notable people Murat Karayalçın Mehmet Haberal Mesut Yılmaz Birol Topaloğlu Deniz Gezmiş Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (1954–), Turkish politician, Prime Minister of Turkey (2003–2014), and President of Turkey (2014–present) Sergen Yalçın, Turkish football player and manager Hakan Yılmaz Abdullah Avcı Fahri Tatan Murat Hacıoğlu Mustafa Topaloğlu Gökhan Birben İsmail Türüt Köksal Toptan Mehmet Bekaroğlu Besim Tibuk Asena Yılmaz Morgül İlyas Tüfekçi Population Notes References [Encyclopedic Dictionary of Black Sea]. 2 Cilt. Heyamola Yayıncılık. Istanbul. External links Populated places in Rize District Roman towns and cities in Turkey Black Sea port cities and towns in Turkey Fishing communities in Turkey Populated coastal places in Turkey