site.btaUPDATED World Championship for Athletes with Down Syndrome Opens in Sofia

The World Championship for Athletes with Down Syndrome was officially opened in Sofia on Sunday with a parade of nations and a musical programme. The championship will run until June 19. BTA is a media partner of the event.

The patron of the championship, President Iliana Iotova, addressed participants and guests and officially declared the competition open. In her opening address, President Iliana Iotova described the championships as "a triumph of the human spirit over isolation, prejudice and loneliness."

More than 400 athletes from 27 countries are taking part in the championships, which are being held in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe for the first time. Competitors will contest medals in five sports: athletics, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, tennis and table tennis.

Bulgaria will be represented by 20 athletes across all disciplines. The Bulgarian team includes five athletes in athletics, five in men's artistic gymnastics, seven in rhythmic gymnastics, and one competitor each in tennis, table tennis and women's artistic gymnastics.

The opening celebrations began with a parade of nations, which started at St Nedelya Square and proceeded along Vitosha Boulevard to the area in front of the National Palace of Culture (NDK), where a special stage had been erected. Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, who led the parade of nations, thanked the participants for "making our city even brighter."

Among the official guests were Youth and Sports Minister Encho Keryazov, Federation for Adapted Physical Activity Bulgaria President Slav Petkov, Bulgarian Boxing Federation President Krasimir Ininski, Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation President Krasimir Dunev, and others.

Youth and Sports Minister Keryazov said the championships demonstrate what society chooses to value, adding that "these children do not want pity, they want opportunity."

The musical programme featured performers Krisko, Lyubo Kirov and Maria Ilieva, who sang the championship anthem, "You Are Part of Us". Other participants included The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices choir, Maria, lead singer of the Talasamche group, the Wonders majorette formation, and the Marching Stars children's orchestra.

Federation for Adapted Physical Activity Bulgaria President Slav Petkov has said the championships generated exceptionally strong international interest and were made possible through the efforts of numerous institutions and partners, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Sofia Municipality and corporate sponsors.

The championships' ambassadors include Olympic, world and European weightlifting champion Karlos Nasar and Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov. Olympic silver medallists Krasimir Dunev and Boryana Kaleyn serve as ambassadors for artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, respectively.