site.btaBOC President-elect, Italian Ambassador Discuss Joint Initiatives Ahead of Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina

Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) President-elect Vesela Lecheva was Italian Ambassador to Bulgaria Marcello Apicella's guest at the Italian Embassy in Sofia, Lecheva's press centre said here on Wednesday. The two discussed potential collaborations ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, which will open on February 6, 2026, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan. This will be the fourth time that Italy has hosted the biggest sporting event, after Cortina 1956, Rome 1960, and Turin 2006.

Lecheva praised Italy’s organizational ability when it comes to large sporting events such as the Olympic games and expressed hope that the country will welcome all participating athletes with open arms. She added that the event would be significant, as it would be the first Winter Games to have a live audience since the COVID-19 pandemic. Lecheva and Apicella reported that 85% of the facilities are already in place noting that the organizers are making extensive use of existing facilities and infrastructure to reduce costs and environmental impact.

The Italian Ambassador said that he is proud of his compatriot Gianlorenzo Blengini leading the Bulgarian national team to silver medals at the World Volleyball Championship, and that Bulgaria will host the popular Giro d'Italia cycling race next year. 

The newly elected BOC leadership, headed by Lecheva, has not yet been registered in the Commercial Register due to ongoing court appeals. On May 17, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it had provisionally recognized the results of the BOC Elective General Assembly on March 19, 2025, confirming that Lecheva and her team are the only individuals authorized to represent the BOC to the IOC, within the Olympic Movement, and at all IOC-recognized events and Games.