site.btaPresident in Bansko Ski Resort: Bulgaria Has Ambition, Cadres to Host Winter Youth Olympics

Bulgaria has the ambition and cadres to host Winter Youth Olympics, and deserves to be a host country, President Rumen Radev told a news briefing here on Sunday. He was in Bansko to watch the men's World Cup slalom, the biggest winter sports events in the Balkans.

Radev said that he had held talks with International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Pressident Johan Eliasch on Sunday. "The ambition is next year to once again have a World Cup round, but not only. An invitation has also been sent to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. You know that we are in very good relations with him, because we often meet at big international events. Our ambition is Bulgaria to soon apply to host Winter Youth Olympics," the head of State said.

Bulgaria already has the installations and experts necessary to host such an event, and work will be done to make it happen, Radev went on say.

Earlier on Sunday, Radev met with Bansko Mayor Stoycho Banenski. In their talks, the head of State expressed solidarity over the municipality's problems and vision on Bansko's development, the municipality's press centre reported.

Radev said that with every new winter season, the mountain resort affirms its position of a world centre for sport and year-round tourist destination. The world competitions of the highest rank hosted here put Bulgaria's name among the world elite, he added.

Banenski acquainted the head of State with the main challenges for the local self-governance and presented his priorities in the fields of economy, green energy, social activity, tourism, mass sport, education, and infrastructure.