The major national and sports media covered the discussion forum “Women and Sport – Challenges and Achievements before the Olympic Games in Paris 2024”, organized by National Sport Academy and Vessela Lecheva in Sofia.
Leading sports leaders, Olympic champions, coaches, specialists, representatives of the academic community participated for more than three hours in the discussions of the forum “Women and Sport – Challenges and Achievements before the Olympic Games in Paris 2024”, noted Bulgarian National Television.
The event was hosted by the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” and Vessela Letcheva, member of the Committee on Public Affairs and Corporate Communications at the IOC and Chairman of the Bulgarian Rifle Union. The forum also had foreign guests – Deca Nymkei, Development Director of the International Wrestling Federation and Matthias Favreau from the Embassy of the Republic of France in Bulgaria.
The participants discussed the role of women as sports leaders, competitors, coaches, specialists, sports journalists.
The Forum was opened by the Rector of NSA prof. Krasimir Petrov. He distinguished the role of women teachers and researchers, coaches and specialists.
“I am happy that the National Sports Academy managed to gather around one table the elite of women’s Bulgarian sport. I hope this will be only the first of a series of such meetings that we will organize, “said prof. Petrov.
В НСА се проведе форум на тема „Жените и спортът“ – По света и у нас – БНТ Новини (bntnews.bg)
Необходимо е по-сериозно женско присъствие, са изводите от форума „Жените и спортът“ (24chasa.bg)
Sportal.bg live coverage of the forum
In an interview with the website, Vessela Letcheva pointed out that at the Olympic Games in Paris for the first time in history there will be an equal number of participants – men and women.
Olympic champion Teresa Marinova, who is a coach and teaches, also spoke to reporters about women’s career development in sports.
Тереза Маринова: Тази Олимпиада ще бъде емблематична за жените (sportal.bg)
Изтъкнати наши шампиони се включиха в дискусионния форум на НСА (sportal.bg)
In an interview with Gong.bg on the topic spoke one of the participants in the forum – the President of the Bulgarian Fencing Federation Velichka Hristeva.
“I have been chairman of the Bulgarian Fencing Federation for 20 years and I have never felt a different attitude because I am a woman. That’s how it should be everywhere. Women are a serious force in sports, but without men we cannot. In fencing, there is no division between men and women, there is equality. It is also proved by the fact that I have been at the forefront of our dispute for so long,” Hristeva said.
Величка Христева: Жените сме сериозна сила в спорта – Още спорт – Други спортове – Gong.bg
In front of the Gong.bg camera Vessela Letcheva noted the stereotypes regarding the female presence in the sport.
“I am glad that the leadership of the NSA accepted our idea for this conference. A few days ago, in connection with International Women’s Day, IOC President Thomas Bach noted that at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris there will be an equal number of disciplines for men and women. By comparison, at the Olympics 120 years ago, only 2% of participants were women.
Our idea for this forum was those who have very good careers as athletes, coaches and managers, to share the successes of women who fight all challenges and reach the top of the sport.
Despite the great strides that have been made, little is still invested in women to participate actively and equally in the management of sport. There are still stereotypes and prejudices that sport is for men, especially in some disciplines. And in our country the achievements of women in sports are much more serious – the last Olympic medalists for Bulgaria are mostly women. I wish success to everyone, as well as to transfer their energy to the men to win more medals in Paris,” Letcheva told the media.
