Sofia will have a chance to host the Winter Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened the door for more candidates, said in an interview with BNR the former acting Minister of Youth and Sports Vesela Lecheva, who is a member of the committee of “Public Affairs and Corporate Communications” at the IOC. She became the first Bulgarian woman after Nadezhda Lekarska to find a place in the prestigious organization.
According to Letcheva, this became possible after the decision of the IOC, taken at the session in Mumbai (India) for shared hosting between two countries for the Winter Olympic Games for 2030 and 2034. The decision was supported by the presidents of all seven international federations in Winter Olympic sports. A report looking at the impact of climate change on the Winter Olympics has revealed a shrinking pool of potential hosts by 2040 and further into mid-century due to climate change. The new possibility of shared household will open the doors to other countries.
“The chance of our capital is in joint households, which are already being discussed because of increased costs and climate change. According to an up-to-date report discussed during the IOC session, no more than 10 countries can currently host the Winter Games. We have good winter resorts, as well as accumulated organizational experience in world and European cups and championships,” commented Letcheva.
Discussions about a sustainable economic model for the Winter Olympics also continue after another study by the commission showed that the cost of organizing sports events at the Games is significantly higher than that of World championships.
When asked if there will be a Bulgarian member in the IOC again, where Bulgaria has been absent since 2005 after the expulsion of Ivan Slavkov, Vessela Letcheva answered: “The time will come for us to have our own representative again.”
Lecheva announced that there is onether good news for Bulgarian sport from the IOC session. Weightlifting will remain on the Olympic program for Los Angeles 2028. However, the International Federation will have to guarantee a fully transparent anti-doping policy. The program will also includes the modern pentathlon.
On the occasion of the renovation of the shooting complex “Geo Milev”, the chairman of the Bulgarian Shooting Union informed that it is on the final stage: “I am glad that it is almost finished and that sports shooting will have its new and cozy home. Nothing has been invested in our sport over the past 30-plus years.”
Vessela Letcheva also said that she has a good working relationship with her successor – the Minister of Youth and Sports Dimitar Iliev, but she sees a desire to build on what has been achieved, and not to start all over again.
Regarding whether sports venues can be profitable, she commented: “When we invest in a large facility such as “Arena Sofia”, “Arena Burgas” or “Arena Ruse”, there is also a desire for a new national stadium, no one raises the question of how this facilities will be managed. And this is the most important topic.”
