The new leadership of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) is already demonstrating a different approach to management – one that is open and driven by a desire for development. This was stated by the team of IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who has been holding talks since this morning with the BOC delegation led by President Vessela Letcheva.
At exactly 11:30 a.m., Coventry welcomed Lecheva and the other members of the delegation into her office. This is the new BOC president’s first official visit to the Olympic House in Lausanne.
Vessela Letcheva is accompanied by two members of the BOC Executive Bureau – Vice President and Rector of the National Sports Academy (NSA) Prof. Krasimir Petkov, and World Cup snowboard champion Radoslav Yankov, a four-time Olympian who also serves as the athletes’ representative. He is also the first active Bulgarian athlete to meet with Coventry at the IOC headquarters and to have the opportunity to familiarize himself personally with all the programs. Also participating in the meetings were Secretary General Danail Dimov, Prof. Efrem Efremov, and the BOC’s Director of Communications, Miliana Veleva.
“I am delighted that you are our guests at our first official meeting. Our team has been working since the very first day of your election as president, and I am pleased that the Bulgarian Olympic Committee also recognizes the work done in Lausanne regarding good governance,” said Kirsty Coventry.
“The difficulties are behind us, and we want to showcase the best of Bulgarian sports to the IOC and the world,” stated Letcheva in turn.
She briefed Kirsty Coventry on the plans for a new building to serve as the BOC’s new home. “If our plans come to fruition, it would be an honor for us to invite you to open it,” she added.
Radoslav Yankov thanked Kirsty Coventry for her support of the athletes. In addition to being a four-time Olympian, he himself was a three-time recipient of a scholarship from the IOC’s “Olympic Solidarity” program. Starting this year, the IOC is also awarding a direct financial bonus to all Olympians who have participated in the Olympic Games.
“Keeping the parallel giant slalom on the program is important not only for me, but for hundreds of children who have become passionate about the sport that we’ve managed to popularize. It’s great that not only is our discipline being retained, but we’ll also have a new mixed discipline – men and women,” said Yankov.
Coventry welcomed the athletes’ involvement in governance. She emphasized that, as a champion and Olympian, she understands how important it is not to lose touch with active athletes.
The rector of the National Sports Academy, Prof. Krasimir Petkov, stated that three IOC presidents have been awarded honorary doctorates by the sports academy he leads, and it would be a privilege to bestow this honor on the first female IOC president as well.
Coventry announced that she plans to hold active meetings with National Olympic Committees next year and that Bulgaria may be included in the visit schedule. The IOC’s Communications Department commended the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) for the visible changes in the organization’s public image – a new website, an open media policy, social media engagement, and transparency.
