These have been the most successful Olympic Games in the last two decades. After Paris 2024, our sports community needs to start a serious conversation about the direction of development, and the most important tasks are related to the coaches and the sports facilities in our country. This is what Vessela Letcheva, President of the Bulgarian Shooting Union and member of the IOC Commission for Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, told Bulgaria ON AIR TV.
We must congratulate our participants who made us feel proud. Apart from the seven medallists, we have another 15 athletes in the top 10 of their disciplines in Paris, which shows that more than 20 Bulgarians had a chance to win a medal,” said Vessela Letcheva.
Regarding the comments that four of the Olympic medals were won by naturalized Bulgarians, Lecheva said, “It is important to know that these elite athletes felt at home in Bulgaria, were given the conditions for training and the opportunity to participate in major competitions, which is also an important factor for the final success.”
When asked whether these medals are few or many, Lecheva replied, “It depends on the basis of comparison – whether we compare with Seoul 1988 or with the past Games. Let’s not forget that for a long time Bulgarian sport was looking for its way. Nobody at these Olympics was able to predict exactly how many medals would be won and in which sport. The last big competitions showed how difficult it is to win even the quotas because the forces are very equal.”
After the success in Paris 2024, it is time for a serious analysis and a clear assessment of where Bulgarian sport stands. According to the former sports minister, the most important areas to pay attention to, are the coaches and specialists, as well as the sports facilities.
“There is still a lot of talent out there, but the biggest problem is that the athletes trained and conducted their training in conditions far removed from those of their rivals. This is the reason why after these Olympics the Bulgarian sports community needs to have a serious conversation about what needs to be done in the next 4 and even 8 years. There is a huge need for investment. There is a lack of training facilities on which to conduct daily professional training. We are not talking about the big multi-purpose halls in Sofia, Ruse or Burgas, but about modern smaller facilities, which Bulgarian sport does not have at the moment”, added Vessela Letcheva.
According to her, the Olympic Committee should play a leading role, as it is in many other countries.
“I will give the example of the US Olympic Committee. There, separate units monitor the training in each sport and of each athlete. It is a well-planned and managed activity,” the former sports minister further explained.
