site.btaVesela Lecheva: Bulgaria Will Have Its Strongest Winter Olympic Team Yet

Bulgarian Olympic Committee President-elect Vesela Lecheva is optimistic about the performance of Bulgarian athletes at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina, which will take place from February 6 to 22. She spoke at a ceremony presenting the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, hosted at the Italian Embassy in Sofia by Ambassador Marcello Apicella.

Bulgaria has earned 20 quotas, with the names of the athletes to be officially approved on Tuesday at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. The country’s delegation will consist of 50 people.

“The Bulgarian delegation will include 20 competitors. I dare say that for the first time Bulgaria will have such a strong team at the Winter Olympic Games. Just yesterday at the World Cup in Bansko we had two podium finishes - the gold medal won by Tervel Zamfirov, whom I would like to congratulate, and Radoslav Yankov, who also reached the podium with a third-place finish. Let us also mention Malena Zamfirova, who was selected as the best young athlete in winter sports by the European Olympic Committees. She also delighted us this past season with several podium finishes. At the previous World Cup, Alexander Krashniak won the final Olympic quota with a second-place finish. As for Albert Popov, Madonna di Campiglio is the place where he achieved the greatest success of his career, winning first place in the World Cup (slalom) last season. I can also mention Vladimir Zografski, who represents ski jumping in Bulgaria and is constantly among the elite in this sport, despite the fact that Bulgaria still does not have a functioning ski jump facility. In figure skating, we will be represented by Alexandra Feigin, to whom we wish success,” Lecheva said.

Feigin will be the flag bearer of the Bulgarian delegation at the Opening Ceremony of the Games on February 6 at San Siro in Milan, while the Bulgarian representative from the men’s team will be determined at a later stage.

“There is no way I can underestimate the participation of any of these 20 athletes. The very fact that they have qualified for the Olympic Games shows that they work tirelessly, every single day, overcoming challenges and difficulties, fully aware of how hard it is to achieve the high goals they set for themselves. They compete not only with the world elite, but also with themselves - the hardest battle of all. I wish each and every one of them success at the Olympic Games,” Lecheva added.

“I hope that Italy will provide the best possible conditions for the Olympic Games, will create a very pleasant and wonderful atmosphere, and, of course, full stands. Italy will be hosting the Olympic Games for the third time, which demonstrates the country’s experience and expertise, and shows that it has the capacity to organize some of the very best Games.”