site.btaBulgarian Delegation Joins Olympic Forum in Malta

A Bulgarian delegation led by the country's Olympic Committee (BOC) President Vesela Lecheva is taking part in the 45th seminar of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and the Olympic Solidarity Forum in Malta. The delegation also includes BOC Secretary General Danail Dimov and Lozan Mitev, founder and chair of the National Olympic Academy.

During the event, Bulgarian snowboarder Malena Zamfirova will receive an award after ranking among the top five young winter sports athletes in Europe, following her nomination by the BOC Executive Bureau and a poll among all national Olympic committees across the continent.

On Friday morning, Zamfirova addressed the delegates with a powerful speech on the meaning of sport and Olympism. Zamfirova drew the forum's attention to the possible exclusion of Alpine snowboarding from the Olympic Games. She underlined that Alpine snowboarding was the “royal discipline” and the very foundation of snowboarding, the first technique children should learn, and one that allows athletes to move easily into other categories. She warned that removing Alpine snowboarding from the 2030 Olympic Games would have negative consequences for the entire sport.

After her speech, she received special congratulations from European Commissioner Glenn Micallef and EOC President Spyros Capralos, who also met during the day with BOC President Lecheva.

The 2025 conference is intended to set the agenda for the next four years and is therefore held jointly with Olympic Solidarity, highlighting the shared commitment to strengthening sport and supporting athletes through strategic programmes. The forum brings together the presidents and secretaries general of all European national Olympic committees, along with representatives of the IOC and EOC executive boards.

The two-day programme includes six seminars covering key topics that allow national Olympic committees to exchange experience, effectively support their athletes, and promote the principles and values of Olympism. Ahead of the 45th EOC Seminar and Olympic Solidarity Forum, EOC President Spyros Capralos chaired a meeting of the EOC Executive Committee.

The winner of the 10th Piotr Nurowski Best Young European Winter Sports Athlete Award will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday evening.