Sports Minister: Bulgarian Olympic Committee Is Independent Legal Body, Elects Its Own Leadership

Unfortunately, the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) is an independent legal entity and determines its own leadership, Youth and Sports Minister Ivan Peshev said at a media briefing in Razlog on Thursday. He participated in the opening ceremony for the construction of a multifunctional sports hall here.

He emphasized that the ministry has provided the necessary funds for the preparation of Bulgarian athletes for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina 2026 and the state has fulfilled its commitment.

Vesela Lecheva was elected as the President of the BOC on 19 March 2025. On 17 May 2025, the International Olympic Committee recognised her and the new BOC Executive Board, and the change in the leadership of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee was updated in the databases of the International Olympic Committee, the European Olympic Committee and the Association of National Olympic Committees.

The minister noted that the situation regarding the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation (BWF) is calm. He pointed out that the Wrestling Federation Management Board takes decisions regarding athletes who do not conduct centralized training, adding that centralized training is a practice in many European countries.

The new leadership of the BFW decided that athletes who do not conduct centralized training will not be included in the national team for international competitions. Olympic champion Semen Novikov has stated his intention that he wants to continue fighting for Bulgaria, but that he wishes to train with his personal coach.

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