site.btaBulgarian Sports Day Celebrated in Sofia

Sports Minister Encho Keryazov, Bulgarian Olympic Committee President-elect Vesela Lecheva, Bulgarian Athletics Federation President Georgi Pavlov, National Sports Academy Rector Krasimir Petkov attended celebrations of Bulgarian Sports Day in Sofia on Sunday, the Bulgarian Athletics Federation's press centre said.

They attended an event of the athletics league GoKids, organized by Priority Sport club with the support of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation. Hundreds of kids from across the country took part in the competitions on the premises of the National Sports Academy. The league gives children the opportunity to take their first steps in track and field.

“Thank you all for honouring this event, which brings together thousands of children every year. Thank you to all the parents and children who are at the stadium in sunshine and rain for the love of athletics,” Pavlov said at the official opening of the competition.

“It is a great honour for me that such worthy people are with us today. This shows that athletics is not alone and that it has support. And with this support, I believe we will move forward. Special thanks also to Minister Keryazov, who is here in my very first days as federation president to honour our event on Sports Day. I also thank the National Sports Academy - we feel at home here, even though we still do not have a home of our own. I wish success to all participants,” Pavlov added.

Keryazov, Lecheva and Petkov gave the start of some of the first 60-metre races and later joined Pavlov in presenting awards to the children. All united around the importance of developing youth and children’s sport in Bulgaria through joint efforts.

Earlier in the day, Keryazov delivered a greeting on the occasion of Bulgarian Sports Day.

“This date is a symbol of a worthy beginning that laid the foundations of the organised sports movement in Bulgaria back in 1894 and turned sport into a cause that unites society and brings national pride. Today we pay well-deserved tribute to generations of Bulgarian athletes, coaches, sports figures, teachers and specialists who, with talent, hard work and dedication, brought glory to Bulgaria around the world and left a bright mark on the history of world sport. Their achievements are not only a source of pride, but also an inspiration to all of us,” he said, as quoted by his Ministry's press centre.